ISKANDAR PUTERI, Oct 17 (Bernama) — Over 1,000 counsellors from secondary and primary schools, as well as private education institutions in the state attended the Mental Health Awareness Counselling Conference, aimed at equipping educators with skills and tools they need to guide students to recognise early signs of a mental health crisis.

Educity operations director Prof Dr Sakina Sofia Baharom said the programme, in collaboration with the Johor State Education Department (JPNJ), will also provide intervention guidance for severe mental health problems.

She added that the two-day conference was held in conjunction with the Mental Health Awareness month, including programmes in the form of workshops, lectures, and forums by experts from private and government institutions.

“This conference is to create awareness on how to deal with mental health problems. I think after COVID -19, even teachers do not have the opportunity to meet face-to-face to discuss problems with students.

“So, we are providing a platform because EduCity is an education centre that also plays a role in providing a platform for educators,” she said at a press conference today. Also present was JPNJ director Md Said Daimon.

Meanwhile, Md Said said the conference would not only benefit the teachers but also the 582,153 students in the state.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency