In conjunction with National Youth Day Celebration 2025 (Hari Belia Negara Peringkat Kebangsaan 2025), the School of Psychology and Social Sciences (SOPSS), IMU University, was honoured  to be involved in providing mental health consultation services during the national-level celebration held on 14 and 15 June 2025 at Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur. The event was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kementerian Belia dan Sukan) in collaboration with Malaysia Youth Council (Majlis Belia Malaysia), and officiated by the Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim.

IMU hosted a mental health booth under the ‘Wadah Insan’ segment during this national event, offering a valuable opportunity for students to bridge theory and practice by applying their knowledge in a real-world setting. This experience also fostered meaningful collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Through their participation, Master of Clinical Psychology (MCP) and Master of Counselling (MOC) students were able to translate academic knowledge into practical skills. Core competencies developed during their coursework were meaningfully applied in their direct engagement with the public, such as active listening and culturally responsive approaches. This experience not only enhanced their confidence in managing diverse client interactions but also deepened their understanding of the community’s mental health needs.

Under the guidance of Nur Arfah Bt Zaini (MCP Lecturer) and Chin Hui Sian (MOC Lecturer), 11 dedicated students from the MCP and MOC volunteered on a rotational basis to provide the mental health services to the public, such as metaphorical cards experiential sessions, career assessments and mental health assessments.

SOPSS is proud to have contributed to this national event, raising awareness and promoting the importance of mental well-being among Malaysian youth

Puteri Jasmine Tan Binti Kamarulzaman Tan, final semester intern counsellor at the Psychology Management Division, Ministry of Works.

As a volunteer at HBN 2025, she observed her proficiency in speaking the same language as the visitors, helped her in communicating and building rapport with them.

Puteri Jasmine shared that it was touching to see how visitors connect and expressed themselves with the metaphorical cards to gather their inner strength, hope, and resources through the self-reflection moment.

Pham Thi Yen, an international student from Vietnam, is currently completing her internship at a private college. She volunteered for two days during the event.

“As a facilitator of the Metaphorical Cards booth during the National Youth Day event, I had the privilege of witnessing how this creative tool sparked curiosity and emotional openness among participants. Many individuals appeared visibly lighter and more at ease after the session. Several shared that they spoke about things they usually keep to themselves or struggle to articulate. It was heartening to see how this gentle, visual method provided a safe doorway for reflection and expression. I felt deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of IMU facilitation team and contribute to raising awareness about mental health and emotional well-being in such an accessible and meaningful way.” by Pham Thi Yen.

Chin Hui Sian, one of the MOC lecturer shared that this event was a valuable opportunity for students to collaborate with MBM and engage with various youth organisations, contributing their knowledge and skills to support adolescents and youths. The trainees were trained to administer the PHQ-9 for mental health screening and the Career Interest Inventory for career exploration. As a volunteer, she also took the opportunity to interact with visitors, raising awareness and promoting mental health services.

“There is still a stigma in the community when people hear the term ‘mental health,’ but I am grateful that more youth leaders are becoming sensitive to the importance of mental well-being. This is a positive sign, as leaders are significant influencers. When they are attuned to these needs, they are more likely to propose initiatives to help youths cope with mental health challenges.” by Chin Hui Sian

 Written by Chin Hui Sian