Latest news with #Vellapandian
!['My mental health has always been my biggest demon' [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'My mental health has always been my biggest demon' [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Do top Malaysian athletes suffer mental health issues. Yes, they do. Away from the spotlight, their inner demons lurk, taking a psychological toll on them. Swimmer Phee Jinq En, who competed in two Olympics, shed light on the issue in an exclusive interview with Timesport. She was on course for her third Olympics (Paris, last year) after competing in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and 2020 in Tokyo — until a rule change ended her dream. As Malaysia's No. 1 female swimmer, Jinq En was widely expected to qualify via a universality slot. However, the International Olympic Committee revised its criteria, ruling that athletes who had competed at two previous Olympics were no longer eligible for a wild card. "I felt like the rule was directly targeted at me. I'm sure a lot of athletes were affected," said Jinq En. "It felt unfair when you've worked for three years to stay on top, only to have it taken away." The 28-year-old admitted that the blow left her reeling. "To maintain your No. 1 spot for three years, and then watch someone else go. I think people can understand my anger and disappointment. But to be honest, it's no one's fault." Unable to face the Olympic disappointment, she shut herself out during the Paris Games. "I went to Thailand. I just needed to get away. I didn't watch TV for two weeks. I didn't want to see what was going on," she said. But the Paris heartbreak was only one chapter in Jinq En's long battle with depression — one that has played out quietly behind the medals and podium finishes. A four-time SEA Games gold medallist and holder of three national records, the former student of Purdue University, United States, has been open about her struggles with mental health. It was during her time in the US that Jinq En first came to terms with her condition — after friends and coaches urged her to seek professional help. In an earlier Timesport report, former National Sports Institute sports psychologist Muhammad Deen said mental health challenges were becoming more serious among athletes in Malaysia and beyond due to the constant demands on their bodies and minds. "My mental health has always been my biggest demon," said Jinq En. "One of my friends said, 'You need to see a therapist. We can only help so much'. At that time, I was in denial. But my coach forced me to see a therapist." Therapy helped her gain clarity and focus to compete at the highest level. National Sports Institute chief executive officer Dr. P. Vellapandian told Timesport earlier that national athletes should not hesitate to seek help for mental health issues and there is no stigma in seeking professional support. Dr. Vellapandian said mental health issues — including performance-related pressure, anxiety, depression or burnout — are becoming common in elite athletes. Dr. Vellapandian also said he was ready to personally help Lee Zii Jia if the shuttler needs psychological support. There were concerns about the Olympic bronze medallist's mental health after Zii Jia shared a cryptic social media post recently, and which led to the National Sports Council contacting his management team. However, Zii Jia's team responded by saying he was fine. Jinq En said: "As athletes, our emotions run extremely high or really low. Therapy gave me ways to understand myself better." She now turns to drawing and journaling to manage her mental health. "Drawing became an outlet to cope with challenges, and journaling helped me express frustrations instead of keeping them inside," she added. Jinq En, who hails from Subang Jaya, is also using her experience to raise mental health awareness, especially among young athletes. "Conversations about mental health in Malaysia are still just surface-level, but I think my generation and the younger ones are more open to talking about it," she said. "The older generation still sees mental health as taboo — like you just need to tough it out." Jinq En credits social media for helping to shift the conversation. "These days, we can choose the content we consume. I use my platform to promote mental health, and I see a lot of others doing the same. It shows athletes it's okay to talk about this. "But it's a double-edged sword. I've received hate comments. Every athlete in Malaysia has. But I've learnt to ignore them. I'm trying to live my best life, and if that bothers someone, it's their problem." Despite the Olympic setback, Jinq En is focused on what matters most — healing, growing, and using her voice to make a difference.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Will Zii Jia enter NSI's 'mental court'?
KUALA LUMPUR: National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Dr P. Vellapandian is ready to personally help Lee Zii Jia if the shuttler needs psychological support. There were concerns about the Olympic bronze medallist's mental health after Zii Jia shared a cryptic social media post recently, and which led to the National Sports Council contacting his management team. Zii Jia's team responded by saying he was fine. However, this has not stopped badminton fans from speculating on Zii Jia's mental health and whether the professional shuttler could cope with the expectations and pressure following a run of disappointing results. Zii Jia has also delayed his return from injury by announcing his withdrawal from the Japan Open next month. He has been missing from the World Tour in the past four months. His last tournament was the All England in March where he fell in the first round. Vellapandian, a trained sports psychologist, said NSI remains open to helping Zii Jia, and the chief executive is willing to meet him personally. "He can come to us anytime. I am offering to see him personally if he needs help. "Sometimes there's stigma around mental health, and athletes may be reluctant to talk about anxiety or depression. "I'm very open. I'll give him first priority. If it turns out to be more clinical, we can refer him to the right mental health professionals," said Vellapandian. Although Zii Jia is not in NSC's elite programme, Vellapandian stressed that NSI psychologists had supported him in the past and would do so again. "Zii Jia still represents Malaysia internationally. In the past, we've provided psychological support to him at major games. He can still refer to our psychologists." Vellapandian said mental wellbeing should be viewed from two angles — general mental health and performance psychology. "For performance-based support, we have in-house psychologists. But broader mental health may involve lifestyle, environment or even spiritual aspects." Regarding Zii Jia's recent post, which featured dark imagery, Vellapandian urged the public not to jump to conclusions, noting it could simply be artistic expression. However, he said such behaviour should be monitored. "If there's a pattern — if similar posts continue or if there's pressure affecting his performance — then it may warrant further evaluation."
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Get the pros to exorcise your inner demons
This is part 2 of a three-part series on mental health of Malaysian athletes by Timesport KUALA LUMPUR: National athletes should not hesitate to seek help for mental health issues and there is no stigma in seeking professional support, said National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer P. Vellapandian. Vellapandian, who is a trained sports psychologist, said mental health issues — including performance-related pressure, anxiety, depression or burnout — are becoming common in elite athletes. "If an athlete is struggling, I strongly encourage them to come forward and speak to us," he said. "The doors at NSI are always open. They can come directly to me or consult our sports psychologists. All sessions are confidential, and we will ensure they get the help they need." NSI offers a range of services related to both performance psychology and mental health. Vellapandian said NSI's psychologists usually work on areas such as goal setting, arousal control, injury recovery, confidence building and emotional regulation. These services are regularly used by athletes under the Podium Programme, Pelapis and Road to Gold (RTG) initiatives. However, in cases where an athlete's condition appears clinical — such as signs of depression or extreme anxiety — NSI will refer them to certified mental health specialists for a formal diagnosis and further treatment. "We have the tools and partnerships in place. If the issue is clinical, we will carry out an evaluation and refer them to a licensed mental health expert for proper treatment, including diagnosis and follow-up care." Vellapandian said global figures indicate that approximately 34 per cent of current elite athletes show symptoms of anxiety and depression, while the figures for retired athletes stand at around 26 per cent. Malaysian athletes, he added, are no exception. "Anxiety, depression, burnout, eating disorders — these are real issues. And they are common in high-performance sports, even if they are not often discussed." He said while most athletes are comfortable seeking help for performance-related matters, there is still some reluctance when it comes to addressing mental health from a clinical perspective. "There's still a stigma, especially when it comes to depression or anxiety. Athletes may feel like it's a weakness or worry about people think of them. "But mental health is just as important as physical health. In other countries, athletes walk into the mental health support rooms without hesitation. We want that same openness here." To help create a supportive environment, NSI psychologists also conduct field observations during training, in addition to one-on-one and group consultations. This allows them to detect behavioural changes that may not surface in formal sessions. "Mental health isn't only about performance. It involves an athlete's lifestyle, environment, personal experiences, even their spiritual grounding. We take all of that into account. "We have medical officers, recovery programmes, sports nutritionists, performance analysts, biomechanists — all working together. Vellapandian.
