In conjunction with World Mental Health Day 2025, the School of Psychology and Social Sciences (SOPSS), IMU University, partnered with the Sunfert International Fertility Centre, one of IMU’s Graduate Training Partners (GTP), to organise an insightful and engaging webinar titled “Caring for Patients, Caring for Us: Mental Wellness in Fertility Clinics.”

Held on 10 October 2025, the session was conducted by Chin Hui Sian, a Registered and Licensed Counsellor and Lecturer from SOPSS, together with her Master of Counselling student, Jessica Wilbert. The session focused on recognising and supporting mental health needs, using compassionate communication, and building resilience to prevent burnout among staff and patients.

The webinar was moderated by Chong Zhan Xuan, a Semester 3 IMU University student from the MBBS programme, who guided the session smoothly and facilitated an engaging Q&A segment. The event began with an opening address by Mr Sures Muniandy, CEO of the Sunfert International Fertility Centre, who expressed his appreciation for IMU’s collaboration and reaffirmed Sunfert’s commitment to employee mental wellness.

A total of 51 participants attended the session, which featured interactive sharing and reflective activities. One of the highlights was an art-based activity led by Jessica, encouraging participants to express emotions creatively through drawing, a simple yet powerful way to relieve stress and promote self-awareness.

The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive. When asked “What was the most interesting thing you learned in this webinar?”, participants shared thoughtful responses such as:

• “How to respond to patients.”
• “Expressing ourselves through art.”
• “Drawing to reduce stress.”
• “Ways of self-assessment of stress.”
• “Dealing with emotional patients.”
• “The doodling activity, it was relaxing and meaningful.”
• “Ms Jessica’s tone and presentation were calming and very suitable for a mental health topic.”

The session not only deepened understanding of mental wellness in the context of fertility care but also embodied this year’s World Mental Health Day theme, “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.”

This collaboration between IMU University and Sunfert International Fertility Centre reflects a shared vision to prioritise mental well-being and nurture compassion in healthcare practice, ensuring that those who care for others are also cared for.

Written by Dr Thulasimani Munohsamy, SOPSS, IMU University