Good mental health is integral to the creation of a safe environment, says National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei) deputy president Dr Teh Choon Jin.
“Integrating mental health support into overall safety planning helps prevent crises from escalating and fosters a culture of care and resilience within the student community,” he said.
Drawing from global examples, Teh noted that many international universities have made significant investments in mental health services.
These integrated approaches, he said, could serve as models for Malaysian institutions to adapt to local contexts while ensuring compliance with national safety standards.
He said many private universities are already moving towards a holistic safety model that addresses not only physical protection but also psychological and emotional well-being.
Beyond physical security enhancements, there is a growing focus on student well-being, he added.
“Institutions are expanding access to mental health services and deploying mobile safety applications,” he said.
The Educational, Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF) Malaysia called on educational institutions and policymakers to promote free counselling services, strengthen early intervention, and prioritise mental health education.
Supporting student well-being must no longer be optional – it is essential, the foundation established in 1979 said in a press statement.
Recent violent incidents involving students signal a growing mental health crisis among Malaysian youth, the statement read.
“According to the National Health Morbidity Survey, mental health issues among students have nearly doubled, rising from 7.9% in 2019 to 16.5% in 2023.
“Academic pressure, post-pandemic trauma, economic hardship, and family issues are major contributors. Yet, many students still lack access to timely help due to stigma and under-resourced support systems.”
Note: EWRF, whose mission is to empower marginalised communities in Malaysia by creating platforms for empowerment through education, psychosocial counselling and welfare for B40 communities, offers free counselling in English, Malay, Tamil and Hokkien via tele-counselling and in-person sessions in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL. To speak to a counsellor, call 03-7498 7140. For details, logon to ewrf.org.my/
