The 2019 National Health & Morbidity Survey (NHMS) conducted by the Ministry of Health reported that young children and teenagers experienced high levels of poor mental health and ignored to seek help. With students back at campus, there is a renewed concern about whether the pandemic had left students with feelings of confusion, depression, and unhappiness. For institutions of higher learning, more initiatives are needed to address this aspect of student wellbeing and mental health.
Rising to the challenge, 172 students from INTI’s Centre of Art and Design (ICAD) at INTI International College Subang translated their personal lives into artwork at an art exhibition held in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week from 5 to 14 October 2022. Themed #Daretocare, the event showcased over 50 artworks to help the INTI community manage their psychological wellbeing.
Alvis Wong Wei Hung (first from left), a student from the Diploma in Interactive Multimedia with Animation Design programme, poses with seniors at the art exhibition in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week at INTI International College Subang.
According to Teow Ker Shin, a registered and licensed counsellor from INTI International College Subang, the exhibition was an opportunity to raise awareness on mental health through art.
“The art exhibition can elicit the internal narratives of students during the process of creating the artwork. It may create positive feelings and act as a remedy for their mental health,” said Ker Shin who has 15 years of experience as a counsellor.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Hamzah Ramli, a senior lecturer and main coordinator for the project from INTI’s Centre of Art and Design at INTI International College Subang said the art exhibition was a good outlet for students to express their innermost feelings.
“Students are often buried in stress, so this is a good effort to help them destress with art while being outside the classroom. Many studies show that participating in art projects can lead to increased levels of self-efficacy and improved wellbeing. We are glad to have been a part of it,” said Hamzah.
Ahmad Hamzah Ramli, a senior lecturer from INTI International College Subang’s Centre of Art and Design, shared that the art exhibition is an outlet for students to express their feelings.
According to Alvis Wong Wei Hung, a student pursuing the Diploma in Interactive Multimedia with Animation Design programme, there were times during the pandemic that he felt pressured. The art exhibition initiative gave him some alone time to draw what was on his mind.
“After such a difficult journey, this is something that has helped made me feel alive,” said Alex who contributed his anime to the exhibition.
Tan Xin Rou, a student pursuing the Foundation of Design (CFDE) at INTI International College Subang, said the experience had taught her to acknowledge the feelings of others as well.
“We can never know what people are going through in their lives, some emotions cannot be explained in words. I’m grateful that INTI took this initiative to advocate mental health. It gives strength and new hope to most of us to express our emotions artistically,” said Xin Rou.
She added that it was also important for students to look for alternative healing options in order to take care of their mental health.
“If you can’t find a person to talk to, don’t bottle up your negative emotions. I would opt for art as an outlet to let go of messy thoughts and negative feelings. It makes me happier and calmer,” she said.
Some of the artworks produced by INTI’s Centre of Art and Design (ICAD) in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week displayed at the main building of INTI International College Subang.
Acknowledging the effort done by the college, Chow Wei Qian, who is also from the Foundation of Design (CFDE) programme, said that it is important to take care of other people’s feeling and change the negative perception towards mental health issues.
“Words cut deeper than knives, not all people know how to put themselves in other people’s shoes. There are ways to deal with negative comments, there are ways to mitigate this problem, I believe by letting it affect our mental health would cause so much pain and distress,” said Chow Wei.
The art exhibition was one of the initiatives carried out by the Counselling Centre at INTI International College Subang in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week. Other interesting events include seminars, interactive workshops, and a CSR booth.