KAMPAR: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's Centre of Applied Psychology launched the state's first community counseling centre at its Kampar campus recently.

Continuing the institution's long-standing tradition of community service, the facility will be offering face-to-face and telephone-based counseling services to the public.

The centre, which is under the supervision of the university's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, will also organise motivational talks, seminars and workshops, in a concerted effort to reduce the prevalence of mental health problems in society.

Utar Council chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, who launched the centre, said he was confident that it would help to improve the well-being of society.

Dr Ling said there was an increasing need for mental help and support in the community, citing a recent report by the World Health Organisation which showed that 90 people committed suicide every hour.

"In the Asian mindset, there is a perception that people who seek counseling are somewhat abnormal, which has caused our community to neglect our collective mental health," he said.

Dr Ling said the centre would work to change this perception as it would educate the people about the importance of taking care of their mental well-being in today's stress-filled modern lifestyle.

"The best way to change the world is by changing the environment around us, and the launch of this community counseling centre will do just that."

The centre will also double as a research facility for the university and provide an opportunity for psychology students to hone their techniques under the supervision of trained practitioners.

Volunteers, clinical staff and the students will operate the centre's U-Care line.

Besides calling in to discuss their problems, the public can also request to be referred for individual, family, or group counseling sessions.

Utar president Prof Datuk Dr Chuah Hean Teik said the centre was one of the ways the university could contribute to the community.

Also present were Utar planning and development committee adviser Tan Sri Hew See Ting and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences dean Dr Cheah Phaik Kin.

The U-Care line 05-465 8451 operates from Monday to Friday, with the exception of public holidays, between 10am and 5pm. By Loghun Kumaran

Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik (right) and Prof Datuk Dr Chuah Hean Teik launching the centre. Pic by Loghun Kumaran