Post by : Meena Ariff

The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) has reported that a total of 402 students from public universities nationwide were referred to counselling services at their respective institutions during the past year.

Prof. Dr. Zainal Amin Ayub, the Deputy Director General of Higher Education (Governance and Development), explained that this number accounts for only 0.067 per cent of all public university students in Malaysia. He highlighted that, while the number appears small, it can be seen from two perspectives.

“Either students are not fully aware of the counselling services available, or their mental health is generally at a good level,” he said during his speech at the 3rd Malaysian Universities National Health Convention (MUNCH) 2025 today.

Nationwide Study on Student Mental Health

Dr. Zainal Amin also revealed that the ministry is currently carrying out a comprehensive study on the mental health of public university students nationwide.

The nine-month study, conducted by researchers from various universities, including Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is expected to be completed next month.

He added that the findings of the study will be presented to the ministry, helping to identify the necessary steps and strategies to support the mental health of students in public universities across the country.

MUNCH 2025: Empowering Healthy University Communities

The two-day MUNCH 2025 convention, which began today, brings together over 140 participants, including staff from health centres in public universities nationwide.

This year’s edition of the biennial convention, organized by the Public Universities Health Council of Malaysia, is jointly hosted by the UniSZA Student Health Centre and the UMT Health Centre.

Dr. Zainal Amin highlighted that MUNCH 2025 is themed “Empowering Healthy Community: The Future of Health Promotion”, and it focuses on several important areas:

• Strengthening the capacity of health professionals in universities.

• Providing a platform to present research findings on student health.

• Raising awareness of disease prevention and mental wellness.

• Promoting collaboration between universities, researchers, and the health industry.

“This convention represents a positive effort by public universities to improve health knowledge and awareness, which ultimately contributes to the well-being of the entire university community,” he said.

He also praised the collaboration between UMT and UniSZA, stating that it demonstrates the ability of public universities to work together in promoting a healthy lifestyle for students and staff.

Leadership Attendance and Support

The event was attended by several key leaders from public universities, including UMT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohd Zamri Ibrahim and UniSZA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr. Fadzli Adam, highlighting the importance of student health and wellness at the highest institutional levels.

The low number of students seeking counselling may not necessarily indicate a problem. It could reflect a lack of awareness of mental health services or overall good mental health among students.

With the upcoming national study on student mental health, MOHE hopes to better understand the needs of students and develop strategies to improve mental well-being across public universities. Events like MUNCH 2025 play a vital role in empowering students, staff, and universities to prioritize health and foster a culture of wellness across the education system.