World Mental Health Day, a programme of the World Federation for Mental Health, was observed for the first time on 10 October 1992. This year, it is observed at a time when the world is experiencing the unprecedented impact of the current global health emergency due to COVID-19, which has also impacted on the mental health of millions of people. We know that the levels of anxiety, fear, isolation, social distancing and restrictions, uncertainty and emotional distress experienced have become widespread as the world struggles to bring the virus under control and to find solutions. 
Staff, faculty and students at IMU are no exception to these effects and the events organised by The Mind Matters Club, IMU were to help address this among the population of IMU. Every year, the Mind Matters Club organises Mental Health Week to coincide with World Mental Health Day and this year is no different. The events were organised in conjunction with IMU Cares and the Department of Psychiatry, IMU.
| 6 October 2020: Mental Health Week Launch |
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The Mental Health Week Launch was live on IMU Mind Matters Club’s Facebook page and was open to all IMU students, staff and faculty. It was moderated by the IMU Mind Matters Club President, Sean (ME 117). After giving a brief description of The Mind Matters Club, he then introduced our main speaker, A/Prof Sivakumar A/L Thurairajasingam (Deputy Head, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Monash University, Johor Bahru) who spoke on ‘Stress, Anxiety & Depression – All Disorders on a Continuum’. There an active Q&A session following the talk, after which some recorded messages were aired: 
Felicia, the Vice-President of The Mind Matters Club then introduced the Mental Health Week Art Competition with the theme “Mental Health for All”, which was open to all IMU students . The closing date of the competition is 27 October 2020 and there are exciting prizes up for grabs. Following the announcement, Prof Philip George of IMU thanked the members of the Mind Matters Club for their great work in organising the events for the week. He then officially launched the Week with the start of the video created by The Mind Matters Club titled “Seek Help”. It was a half an hour long video and is expected to be submitted to a WHO Mental Health Day short movie competition. The event ended at 5:30pm. Thus far, the event has more than 850 views on Facebook and is growing, and has numerous likes. You can watch the short movie titled “Seek Help’” via https://www.facebook.com/IMUMIndMattersClub/videos/821447868602528/ |
| 7 October, 2020: Wellness Talk |
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| On 7 October, 2020, IMU Wellness organised a Wellness Talk specially for all IMU staff, with the topic on “Managing Your Mental Health During a Pandemic” by Prof Philip George of the Department of Psychiatry, IMU from 4pm to 5pm via Zoom Webinar. It was attended by about 50 staff and faculty of IMU and there was a lively Q & A session at the end. |
| 7 October, 2020: Online Workshop on Managing Stress and Anxiety | |
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| On 7 October 2020, an online workshop on Managing Stress and Anxiety was conducted for all IMU students from all faculties. It ran for an hour from 5pm to 6pm via Zoom and was attended by 190 students. It was chaired by Salina, a Committee Member of the Mind Matters Club, who introduced the speaker and facilitator, May Liu, a Psychologist from the Growing Space, Psychology Center, Seremban. |  |
| IMU Mind Matters Club Art Competition | |
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The IMU Mind Matters Club Mental Health Week Art Competition was announced on 6 October 2020. The theme was following the World Mental Health Day theme “Mental Health for All”. Attractive prizes are offered for the first 3 winners. The closing date of this competion on 27 October 2020. More on the Art Competition: A Show of Creativity, Talent and Hard Work at IMU Mind Matters’ Art Competition |
