KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has started a new partnership with the University of Cyberjaya (UoC) to help national shuttlers to improve their personal growth, mental well-being and professional development.
BAM deputy president 1 Datuk V. Subramaniam said UoC would assist the association to establish a mental health unit for the benefit of around 120 shuttlers based at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara.
The university, through the Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences, would also help BAM in providing mental health awareness programmes, psychoeducation and improve players’ well-being and resilience.
Lifestyle psychologists will be placed at ABM, on top of existing performance psychologists from the National Sports Institute (NSI) to help players, especially the juniors.
“We have very young players under our care, some as young as 13, who are away from their families. Our responsibility goes beyond providing them with good training, we also need to nurture them and ensure their good mental health.
“The players will benefit extensively from psychoeducation, mental health awareness programmes, as well as cognitive health testing and assessment services provided by UoC,” he said after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UoC Vice Chancellor Prof Zabidi Hussin, here today.
Zabidi meanwhile said UoC students would get the opportunity for industrial training and partnership placements in BAM, through the one-year MoU.
“We aim to make a positive impact on the lives of young and athletes providing them with comprehensive support, professional training mental health services. Together, we will empower these students to excel both academically and athletically.
“The Dean of the Psychology and Social Sciences Faculty, Assoc Prof J Anasuya Jegathevi is an expert in psychology. She will assist BAM to develop its own psychologists,” he added. — Bernama
