THERE are 150 counsellors and psychologists monitoring the mental health of students at all public universities in the country during the Covid-19 pandemic, Deputy Higher Education Minister Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad said.

He said the ministry viewed seriously the mental health of students who have to cope with the stress associated with online learning after the movement-control order was implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

“All students (who are feeling under stress) are encouraged to contact the counsellors or psychologists using the numbers provided at their respective universities,” he said in reply to Rohani Abdul Karim (Batang Lupar-BN) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

Rohani had wanted to know what the ministry was doing to monitor the students’ mental health and reduce stress caused by coursework, tight lecture schedules and strict assessments during the pandemic.

Masrizal said 160 online stress management programmes and activities had been organised by public universities last year, along with two ministry programmes, with five more lined up for this year.

The ministry had also organised similar programmes at polytechnics and community colleges nationwide, and has planned 10 psychological programmes at the national level and 118 programmes at the institution level for this year, he added. – Bernama, September 23, 2021.