Reported by:
Jayanthi A/P Thanabalan
English Department
Kuen Cheng High School teachers from the English, Bahasa Melayu, Sejarah, and Pendidikan Moral Departments participated in a mental health awareness programme aimed at equipping them with knowledge and tools to better support their students’ emotional well-being. This event was a component of the year-round Teachers Professional Training programme and took place on Saturday, 3 May 2025.
The event, meticulously organised by the school administration, is centered around three key objectives:
1) To raise awareness about mental health issues among teenagers
2) To help teachers identify early signs of emotional distress
3) To provide practical strategies for classroom support and intervention
This half-day event began with a talk titled “Common Mental Health Challenges and Conditions among Teenagers” by Ms Celeste Lee Xiao Shiang, a Registered Clinical Psychologist. She began with an overview of adolescent development, detailing how the emotional, physical, and psychological changes experienced by students aged 13 to 17 can render them susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression.
(Photo 1: Ms Celeste highlighting the importance of mental well-being)
During her talk, Ms Celeste also distinguished between mental health and mental illness, emphasizing that while all students require mental health support, not all are experiencing mental illness. Her session encouraged teachers to adopt a more observant, empathetic, and proactive approach in addressing the emotional needs of their students. Teachers shared their perspectives and were actively involved in the discussion. Ms Vino, Head of the English Department, served as the moderator for the conversation. In closing, Mr. Tan Yong Chin, the Vice Principal cum Admin Head of Counseling, presented a token of appreciation to our speaker.
(Photo 2: Mr Tan Yong Chin presenting token of appreciation to Ms Celeste Lee)
The following presentation was titled “Mental Health and Stress Management”, after a short break at 10:00 a.m. Mr Winson Phuah, Senior Director of the Student Leadership Centre at UCSI University has been invited to give the talk. Our Assistant Admin Head of the Academic Department, Mr Tan Hur Thong thanked on behalf of the school for Mr Winson’s arrival.
(Photo 3: Mr Tan Hur Thong extending a warm welcome to Mr Winson Phuah)
To begin with, Mr Winson highlighted the significance of perception in stress management, stating, “The way you perceive your problem determines the level of stress you experience.”
Mr Winson captivated the audience by presenting practical stress management techniques alongside an exciting hands-on activity—fire eating—aimed at helping participants confront their fears and enhance their mental resilience. This activity was the highlight of the session, titled “Igniting Inner Strength: The Fire-Eating Challenge.” Several teachers voluntarily took part in a guided fire-eating demonstration. This symbolic exercise aimed to challenge participants to transcend their perceived limits and reinforce the notion that fear can be overcome with the appropriate mindset. This session was energetic, eye-opening, and made a lasting impact on all attendees.
(Photo 4: Enthusiastic participants together with Mr Winson after the Fire-Eating demonstration)
Both presentations provided timely reminders of the essential role educators play in fostering not only the academic success but also the emotional well-being of our students.
