ISN, MUM Collaborate To Strengthen Athlete Psychological Support

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Institute of Malaysia (ISN) and Monash University Malaysia (MUM) today signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen athlete performance, mental wellbeing and professional capacity development in Malaysia’s high-performance sports ecosystem.

ISN chief executive officer Dr Vellapandian Ponnusamy said the collaboration would focus on integrating sports science, sports medicine and psychological support services for national athletes, without any direct financial implications between the two institutions.

“Elite sporting success today extends beyond physical preparation. Mental resilience, psychological wellbeing and emotional readiness are increasingly recognised as critical determinants of athletic performance.

“This partnership represents an important step in ensuring our athletes receive comprehensive support that addresses both performance and wellbeing,” he said in the statement today.

Meanwhile, MUM School of Medicine and Health Sciences head Brig Gen (Rtd) Prof Datuk Dr. Mohd Arshil Moideen said the agreement allowed wider interdisciplinary collaboration, and could support future initiatives in research, education, healthcare, sports science and athlete development.

The partnership also built on several joint initiatives carried out by MUM and ISN since last year, including workshops involving sports psychologists, athletes and coaches, Dr. Mohd Arshil added.

The MoU covers specialised psychological services in mental health, counselling, sports psychology and clinical psychology, as well as a reciprocal referral mechanism for complex psychological and clinical cases requiring specialised intervention.

It will also promote knowledge sharing, professional development, research initiatives, student placements and industrial training programmes, subject to arrangements agreed upon by both institutions.

As an immediate outcome, ISN and MUM will jointly implement a Mental Toughness Workshop aimed at strengthening athletes’ psychological resilience and mental preparedness.

-- BERNAMA