Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) and Green Ribbon Group (GRG) launched their newest collaborative effort called the Green Ribbon Effective Agent Training (GREAT) Project during the signing of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Heriot-Watt’s Malaysia campus in Putrajaya.
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GREAT aims to create and mobilise community champions amongst the youth, known as Green Ribbon Ambassadors. Through the initiative, 30 ambassadors will be equipped with mental health literacy to raise awareness of mental health among their peers.
The project consists of a 1.5-day training programme, which is set to kick-start in October 2022. This includes breaking down mental health stigma, providing interim support to peers as well as designing their very own mental health advocacy campaigns.
The partnership forged between HWUM and GRG is based on their similarity in the vision that they have for education.
In her speech, GRG Founder and President, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah said, “The University’s focus on Positive Education is one I very much support. My team and I had the privilege of having Professor Mushtak enlighten us about Positive Education during an Impact Workshop in November last year. It was refreshing to hear someone speak about the importance of happiness, emotional intelligence, and instilling a sense of purpose in students. It became apparent to me very quickly that Heriot-Watt University and Green Ribbon Group share similar values and a deep understanding of the duty of care that we have towards our youth.”
HWUM Provost and Chief Executive Officer Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi said, “In addition to sharing common values and purpose, HWUM and GRG also share a passion to promote mental wellness and resilience through Positive Education among our youth. We are pleased to collaborate with GRG to alleviate mental health stigma and promote the importance of mental well-being, especially among the younger generation who have been through challenging times over the past few years.”
“It is our collective duty to nurture purpose-driven leaders who are equipped with skills and attitudes that will enable them to flourish in a highly uncertain and increasingly complex world,” continued Professor Mushtak.
The GREAT Project is not their only collaborative project, as both organisations have jointly organised programmes namely the Impact Workshop in November 2021 as well as a roundtable session with students and staff of the University on mental health in March this year.
The roundtable discussed many important topics, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its disruptions to daily life, mental health awareness and the experience of stigma amongst university students, as well as peer support and the importance of having a strong support system.
Both parties agreed that COVID gave a silver lining to the awareness of mental health, as it is due to the pandemic that there are increased conversations surrounding mental wellness that previously were not normally discussed.
GRG believes that mental health is the responsibility of all, and everyone can help by asking questions as simple as “How are you?” and holding space for conversations around mental health amongst peers.
The MoU signatories were HWUM Provost and Chief Executive Officer Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi and GRG Founder and President Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah. Also present as witness signatories were HWUM Chief Operating Officer and Registrar, Janice Yew and GRG Co-Founder and Vice President Puteri Nor Ariane Yasmin.
*Reported by NHA Reporter, Kanessha Rama Krishnan
