Delegate: NAVAMANI A/P NAGAPPON (REGISTERED AND LICENSED COUNSELLOR)
Delegate Short Bio: Ms. Navamani A/P Nagappon has been actively involved in counselling and mental health at UTAR for nearly two decades, conducting career guidance talks and specialising in personal development, leadership, and intrapersonal and interpersonal growth. She supports students in enhancing self-awareness and soft skills through training and supervision.
She also develops peer helping programmes and provides supervision to both internal students and external trainee counsellors. With experience in crisis intervention, she has managed cases requiring immediate psychological support.
Ms. Navamani has collaborated with international speakers on World Sleep Day events (2021–2026), contributed to the International Mindfulness Conference 2020, and chaired the Young Leaders Conference 2018. During the pandemic (2020–2022), she served as a counsellor with the Ministry of Health and the Selangor State Health Department. She actively facilitates mindfulness activities aimed at empowering participants and strengthening their personal well-being by enhancing self-awareness, improving emotional regulation, reducing stress, and promoting a greater sense of balance and resilience in daily life.
She continues to engage in community outreach and collaborates with local and international organisations, including Yennipadigal Malaysia and Universitas Warmadewa, Bali, Indonesia.
Scope of Activity: Individual activity
Activity: International World Sleep Day 2026: “Sleep Well, Live Better”: Integrating Science and Tradition for Better Sleep.
The International World Sleep Day 2026, themed “Sleep Well, Live Better”, was organised by Navamani A/P Nagappon, Registered and Licensed Counsellor from the Centre for Healthy Minds and Wellbeing (CHMW, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Sungai Long Campus. It was implemented as a month-long programme throughout March 2026, in conjunction with World Sleep Day 2026, adopting a holistic and innovative approach to promoting sleep health. By integrating modern scientific knowledge with traditional and mindfulness-based practices, the programme provided a unique platform to educate and empower communities to improve sleep and overall well-being.
i) Awareness Talks to Enhance Sleep Quality
A series of awareness talks were conducted to highlight the connection between mental health, lifestyle, and sleep quality. Together, these talks demonstrated an effective integration of psychological, nutritional, and traditional perspectives, enhancing participants’ understanding of sleep from a holistic standpoint. Overall 150 pax from UTARain, community members benefited from these talks.
1. “Psychology of Inner Perception & Its Use for Daily Stress and Emotions” by Master Zhen Qing Chuan, Life practitioner of Qigong from Argentina, was held on 5 March 2026 at UTAR KB Block and emphasised strengthening the mind to identify and resolve internal challenges, promoting emotional balance and improved sleep.
2. “Eat Well, Sleep Well: How Food Shapes Your Sleep Quality and Well-being” by Sim Kheng Yuen, a certified health coach, was conducted through Zoom on 27 March 2026, providing practical strategies and reflections on lifestyle habits that influence sleep quality.
ii) Mindful Living Fair: Experiential Learning and Community Engagement
The Mindful Living Fair, held from 13–14 March 2026, was organised in collaboration with Mindful Peace Malaysia Association and served as a flagship event that attracted nearly 1,000 participants at the Multi-Purpose Hall, UTAR Sungai Long Campus, including students, staff, and members of the public. The programme was further strengthened by the participation of 90 volunteers globally from the International Mindful Peace Organisation, who played an essential role in facilitating activities, guiding participants, and ensuring the smooth execution of the event.
The fair showcased a variety of hands-on mindfulness and wellness activities, including mindful acupressure, Tai Chi mindfulness ball, mindfulness yoga and breathing exercises, along with Dhyana tea and mindful coffee sessions, among many others.
Supporting talks addressed topics such as acupressure for sleep problems, managing excessive dreaming and early awakening, the value of Eastern wisdom in modern living, and techniques for anxiety and emotional well-being. Participants reported immediate relaxation and increased awareness of self-care techniques, particularly through simple, self-administered acupressure methods. These outcomes highlight the programme’s contribution to sleep equity by offering accessible, low-cost, and traditionally inclusive solutions to sleep challenges.
iii) International Webinar: Global Knowledge Exchange
The International World Sleep Day 2026 Webinar, held on 15 March 2026, was jointly organised by CHMW, led by Navamani A/P Nagappon, and in collaboration with Mr Tarun Amalnerkar from the Department of Physiotherapy, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). The webinar featured a diverse panel of international and Malaysian experts, including:
●Mr Sim Kheng Yuen (Malaysia) – Eat Well, Sleep Well: How Food Shapes Your Sleep Quality and Well-being
●Master Zhen Qing Chuan (Argentina) – Causes of Insomnia and Solutions
● Master Shijun Lin (China)– Mindful Acupressure for Better Sleep Through Creativity
● Dr Perran Boran (Turkey) – Paediatric Sleep
● Professor Dr Ahmad Izuanuddin Ismail (Malaysia) – Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
● Mr Tarun Amalnerkar (Malaysia) – Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder
The webinar was moderated by Avneet Kaur and reached 1300 participants from multiple countries, including the USA, India, China, Ireland, and Zambia. The strong international participation reflected global engagement and collaboration, while participant feedback indicated high satisfaction and interest in future programmes.
iv) School Outreach: Empowering Youth Through Sleep Education
An impactful school outreach programme was conducted for students aged 14–17, reaching approximately 250 students from SMJK Yu Hua, Kajang, Malaysia. Ms Navamani A/P Nagappon facilitated interactive reflection activities and introduced a Sleep Pledge, encouraging students to commit to healthier sleep habits. Mr Tarun Amalnerkar further emphasised the importance of sleep in supporting both mental and physical health development. This initiative demonstrated a strong focus on early intervention and youth empowerment, contributing to long-term public health awareness and behavioural change, particularly in promoting healthier lifestyles and sleep practices.
In conclusion, the International World Sleep Day 2026 initiative by Ms Navamani represents a comprehensive and impactful programme that successfully reached nearly 2700 participants from diverse communities across Malaysia and globally. Through the integration of modern scientific knowledge and traditional practices, the delivery of inclusive and accessible activities, and strong leadership supported by global collaboration, the initiative created meaningful community impact. By equipping participants with practical knowledge and sustainable self-care strategies, the initiative contributes to the broader advancement of sleep health and reflects key elements of impactful, innovative, and community-driven practice in this field.
UTAR NEWS: https://news.utar.edu.my/news/2026/Apr/10/03/03.html
Location: UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN, SUNGAI LONG, SELANGOR
Date of Activity: 1 TO 31 MARCH 2026
