UCSI pharmacy students get the ball rolling on mental health awareness

MALACCA: The efforts to bring awareness on mental illness gained momentum as UCSI University’s (UCSI) pharmacy students made it a theme for this year’s UCSI 15th Annual Public Health Campaign 2015. 

With mental illness expected to become Malaysia’s second biggest disease by 2020, more than 900 people were schooled on its signs and symptoms during the two day event held at Hatten Square Suites and Shoppes, Malacca in hopes to reduce the number.  

The campaign -- themed, “Healthy Living Makes Healthy Body and Mind” was graced by Malacca Health Director Datuk Dr Ghazali Othman, as the guest of honour. Also present was Malacca Mental Health Society president, Dato’ Dr N Rajagopal, UCSI Group Founder and CEO, Dato’ Peter Ng, Sri UCSI School Chairperson Datin Lily Ng, and UCSI University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences dean, Associate Professor Dr Yeong Siew Wei.

In light of the recently released National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 which revealed that 4.2 million Malaysians between 16 and above suffer from mental health conditions, Dr Ghazali described this year’s campaign as timely and relevant to public health.

“I congratulate UCSI for organising this campaign, an effort in line with the Health Ministry’s initiatives to remove misconceptions on mental illness and drive awareness on the importance of mental health into the minds of the public,” Dr Ghazali said.

Stressing that mental illness is a problem affecting many Malaysians regardless of their age and background, Dr Ghazali recommended other higher education institutions to emulate UCSI and assist the ministry in bringing the numbers down by casting light on mental health through similar campaigns.

Meanwhile, Dr Rajagopal tipped his hat off to UCSI’s students and lauded the campaign’s theme as adequate and apt.

“The students’ interactivity with the public, getting to know their problems and then providing the necessary information and help is commendable. The country and her people require such initiatives through our youths. I hope, through this campaign, the stigma surrounding mental illness is cast away,” Dr Rajagopal said.

Since 2002, UCSI Annual Public Health Campaigns have been held in multiple states that include Malacca, Pahang, Perak, and Selangor. 

Close to 10,000 members of the public have been positively impacted by these campaigns.

The UCSI University Public Health Campaign is a community project by the Pharmacy Student Association (UCSIUPSA) of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. It aims to promote and educate the public on health-related issues and encourage healthy lifestyles. 

The campaign included various health screening tests such as waist-to-hip ratio measurements, blood pressure tests, body fat tests and blood glucose tests. An interactive session with the public on the safe use of drugs titled, ‘Know Your Drug’ was also held. There were booths and displays on the types of mental health conditions along with the signs and symptoms that the public should be on the lookout for.

Supported by the Malacca Mental Health Society, Alpro Pharmacy, Cerebos and Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) the campaign also had professional counsellors who provided free consultations to the public. 

The campaign aims to help bridge the community-academia divide and to provide an excellent platform for members of the community and students to learn from each other. 

About UCSI University

Built on the principles of audacity, perseverance, integrity and excellence, UCSI University is a leading institution of higher learning with campuses in Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu and Sarawak, Malaysia. It is also a Praxis University® that promotes the application of knowledge even while studying at the university. Established in 1986, UCSI University is the flagship institution of the UCSI Group conglomerate. It is made up of seven faculties, two institutes and a Centre for Pre-University Studies with more than 100 programmes in various disciplines including medicine, pharmacy, engineering, architecture, computer science, business studies, liberal arts and music. Its student body comprises students with an international cohort from more than 80 different countries. With graduate attributes including ethical and civic responsibility, leadership skills and a strong knowledge of disciplines, UCSI University is committed to producing well-rounded graduates with the essential hard and soft skills to be successful in life. For more information, visit the UCSI University website at http://www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my.