Mental health is a hot topic nowadays, and for good reason. Life is moving fast like social media reels, people are often looking at screens instead of faces, and along the way, many of us have forgotten how to take care of what’s inside. Mental health issues have become as common as colds during the rainy season.
To push back against all this doom and gloom, the University has rolled out four new certificate programmes to mark World Mental Health Day. Together with a new psychometric profiling system called PsyQIQ Plus, these were launched in Putrajaya on 16 October.
It was a great honour to have the launch graced by YABhg Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Dr Wan Ismail, in her capacity as the Chairperson of KASIH Malaysia (Pertubuhan Kebajikan Amal Silaturahim Isteri-Isteri Harapan Malaysia).
She was joined by former Minister of Education Dr Maszlee Malik and other distinguished guests, highlighting the national importance of the initiatives.
The new programmes, offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), include the Foundation Certificate in Counselling, Certificate in Mental Health Counselling, Professional Certificate in Psychology, and Advanced Certificate in Islamic Studies. The last was developed together with Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia, a respected NGO known for its work in education and community development.
The programmes are offered fully online through the Cellplus platform, giving learners from all walks of life an easy pathway to further their studies at OUM.
The day’s spotlight also fell on PsyQIQ Plus, a system that combines a Personality Test, Stress Profile, and Learning Styles Profile. Like a psychic powered by data, it will help us to understand our students better, so that we can offer more personalised and meaningful support.
At the start of the event, Vice President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Research) Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Tajudin Md Ninggal shared how the programmes and PsyQIQ Plus can make a real difference. Then, President/Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Izanee Awang spoke about the pressures of modern life – rising costs, long hours, family tensions, and the constant hum of social media.
Stating that OUM wants to do more than just teach, he said, “We want to nurture the soul, shape values, and empower society through education.”
Dr Wan Azizah echoed his sentiment, reminding the audience that education is not only about getting jobs but also about building civilisation.
She noted that the excessive use of smartphones and the Internet can quietly tear down emotional wellbeing, especially among the young. She also stressed the need for proper training and recognition for mental health workers.
The event ended with Bicara Inspirasi, an engaging talk by guest speaker Prof Dr Sharifah Hayaati Syed Ismail from Universiti Malaya. Among others, she warned, “If we don’t take care of our mental wellbeing, the home will become a battlefield.”
According to Prof Sharifah Hayaati, happiness rests on three foundations – spirituality, family, and work. She also shared her late father’s habit of asking people, “Are you okay?” For him, being okay meant being well in body, mind, emotion, and spirit.
Ultimately, education is not only important for the mind but also the heart. With these new programmes and tools, we hope to cultivate not only smarter learners, but also more mentally and emotionally strong individuals.
For more details or to enrol in the new programmes, visit Cellplus (https://cellplus.oum.edu.my).
