Counsellors appointed to ensure Sukma athletes’ wellbeing

KUCHING: A total of 160 counsellors for Sukma XXI Sarawak 2024 and 80 for Para Sukma XXI Sarawak 2024 have been appointed to ensure the emotional and mental wellbeing of the athletes during the Games.

The Sarawak Social Welfare Department has been mandated to coordinate the Welfare Committee for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) and the Para Sukma XXI Sarawak 2024, which will take place from Aug 17-24 for Sukma, and Sept 23-28 for Para Sukma. 

In a statement by the Sukma XXI Sarawak Welfare Committee 2024 yesteday (July 31), it stated that the role of the Welfare Committee is to provide psychosocial services to athletes throughout the sports events. 

“The services provided include crisis intervention and psychological first aid to athletes in need.

“The appointed counsellors will be stationed at the One Stop Centre to facilitate athletes in accessing the services provided by the Welfare Committee,” the statement said.

Counsellors will adhere to the Counsellor Guidelines for Sukma XXI Sarawak 2024 and Para Sukma XXI Sarawak 2024, which have been modified. 

A Counsellor Empowerment Programme (Program Pemerkasaan Petugas Kaunselor) held on Wednesday was organised to provide training to counsellors so they are better prepared to deliver the best services to athletes during the sports events.

The invited speakers for this programme are Chong Siew Kian and   Rejina Gasin from the Sarawak Sports Corporation, Assoc Prof Dr Amalia Madihie and Dr Janet Ann Fernandez from the Faculty of Cognitive Science and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak   (Unimas).

Among the topics covered are the role of counsellors and psychological first aid.