Opening Ceremony of World Mental Health Day Celebration 2025
Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), through its Department of Psychiatry, successfully organised the opening ceremony of the World Mental Health Day 2025 Celebration along with the Launch of the TULUS and KASIH Units on Friday, 10 October 2025, at the Auditorium, Chancellor Tuanku Ja’afar Medical Education Complex, HCTM. The ceremony was officiated by Professor Dr. Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, on behalf of the Director of HCTM.
This year’s programme carried the theme “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”, emphasising the importance of ensuring accessible mental health services, particularly in the context of disasters and emergencies. The main objectives were to strengthen mental health awareness, improve accessibility through the launch of two new units, and foster strategic collaborations, all while reaffirming mental health support as a fundamental human right.
The launch of the TULUS Unit and KASIH Unit, developed in collaboration with MERCY Malaysia, marks a significant enhancement to HCTM’s mental health services. These units represent the shared commitment to ensuring that all individuals have access to quality community-based mental health support. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and various natural disasters have underlined the urgent need for comprehensive mental health care.
In line with this, the Department of Psychiatry has also initiated several innovative programmes, including Psychological First Aid, debriefing sessions, counselling, and psychosocial support during the pandemic and flood emergencies. Additionally, IRYS, an interactive chatbot, was introduced to support healthcare workers in monitoring emotional wellbeing, managing stress, and promoting self-recovery strategies. This initiative also extends support to patients’ families, medical students, and HCTM staff as a whole.
Also present at the event were YBrs. Prof. Dr. Shalimar Abdullah, Head of the Hand and Microsurgery Unit, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, who also serves as the Vice President of MERCY Malaysia; YBrs. Associate Prof. Dr. Chan Lai Fong, Deputy Head of the Department of Psychiatry; YBrs. Associate Prof. Dr. Azlin Baharudin, Programme Advisor; YBrs. Dr. Farah Nabila Abd Majid, Programme Chairperson and Head of the TULUS Unit; YBrs. Dr. Nurul Ain Mohamed Kamal, Head of the KASIH Unit; along with Heads of Departments, Senior Officers, and members of the HCTM community.










