Amid Covid-related lockdowns and mobility restrictions, the issue of mental health had cropped up now and then in the media. But by and large, mental health awareness in Malaysia remains painfully low, and still a taboo topic in some circles.
Much can be done by the government, the corporate sector, and the community to raise mental health awareness and support. Everyone can help out – that is the call of ECHO Malaysia, a start-up that aims to reform the culture around mental health in Malaysia by teaching what it calls “Mental Health First Aid” to different industries.
ECHO Malaysia and KiniEvents jointly organised a Mental Health Awareness Convention at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus last Saturday, bringing together a host of mental health professionals, NGOs, and various other stakeholders to deliberate on the topic of mental health in Malaysia and how each of us can do our bit to help.
The convention featured three panel discussions and an engagement space where participants can learn more about their own mental health through interactive activities.
Panel Session 1: The Future of Mental Health in Malaysia - A Reality Check! was moderated by Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) Executive Director Cheong Sue Jen. The panellists were Dr Chua Sook Ning, Founder, Relate; Tuneesha Regu, a practicing Clinical Psychologist; Prof Madya Dr Ooi Pei Boon, Member of Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia (LKM); and Jason Leong Seng Yi, Co-Founder & Advisor, Better Dads Malaysia.
The Health Ministry had grand plans when it launched the 2020-2025 Mental Health Strategic Plan, which included a centre of excellence for mental health to be set up in 2022. It is unclear how much of the plan has been implemented.
The panellists stressed that Malaysia has to move from facilities-based approach, where the system treats mental health as an illness and care is given only when the patient has already reached a serious stage, to a community-based approach. Those with mental health issues tend to suppress their problems due to fear of being judged or ostracised, or to avoid toxic positivity; the panel stressed on the need for a safe space within the community for these people to be open about their struggles.
The panel concurred that the corporate sector needs to buy in to promote good mental health as they are the ones with the resources. Many companies say their people are their greatest assets. If they walk the talk, they would have supportive workplace mental health policies in place to ensure the welfare of their staff.
Panel Session 2: Mind Matters: Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age was moderated by Justin Victor, Chairman of Befrienders Kuala Lumpur. The panellists were Prof. Dato' Dr Andrew Mohanraj, Director, Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab, Taylor’s University; Prof. Dr Prem Kumar Shanmugam, President, Solace Asia Addiction Retreat; Megan Wood, Co-Founder of Child Psychologist, Thoughtful Minds Academy; Dr Lynda Ling, Professional Counsellor; Anita Abu Bakar, Founder and President, Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association (MIASA).
The panel notes that there are significant differences between the children of different ages and hence need different approaches. To the question of whether youths get more addicted than adults? Dr Prem said “I don’t think so, but youths are more vulnerable… and they are still experimenting.”
Among the panel of mental health professionals, Anita stood out as “an expert by experience” providing the peer point of view that resonates with mental health sufferers and their caregivers. The empathy Anita exuded embodied the essence of MIASA, a mental health advocacy and peer support group with the message that “You don’t have to fight this alone. You are not alone and you can recover.”
The panel also touched on neurodiversity, suicide, and the danger of parents forcing their own template of being onto their children.
Panel Session 3: Boosting Mental Health at Workplace was moderated by Andrea Koh, Professional Counsellor at All Women's Action Society (AWAM). The panellists were Siti Nurani Hassan Trainer, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Jernell Tan, Co-Founder, Mental Health Aid Association (Nyawa); Shelagh MacFarlane, private psychologist; and Dr Tiffanie Ong, Chief Product Officer, Naluri.
The session touched on how to recognise whether an organisation has good mental health support or just treating having a mental health policy as ticking off a checklist, setting healthy boundaries to ensure work-life balance now that more people work from home, and what employers can do to support their workers’ mental health. It also touched on the pros and cons of revealing one’s mental health issues at the workplace.
Siti Nurani reminded everyone that all workers in Malaysia are protected under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514), specifically Section 15 (1): It shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees.
She invited employers, especially SMEs, to make use of NIOSH services, such as workplace improvement analysis and free consulting.
After three sessions of serious panel discussions, the presentation by Vita Health’s dietician Lim Choo Ing was a welcomed change. Lim kept the audience in stitches with her light-hearted and engaging talk on the importance of a healthy diet, where she also introduced the brand’s Charge-Up range of products that support mental wellness.
Participants of the convention also heard how social media influences the young generation, from the perspective of a teenager, presented by Riya Misha.
The day ended with ECHO Malaysia founder Samiksha Banu Chandran giving practical steps on how we can help our loved ones who are going through mental health issues.
Malaysiakini thanks all speakers and sponsors. Mental health matters!
