It’s the best time of the year! For the mentally ill, festive seasons can be of little cheer. The hustle of festivities, the expenses incurred, and the hosting of visitors can be overwhelming. There is also the unspoken pressure to look cheerful. 2017 has been encouraging for mental health advocacy in Malaysia. Mental health issues have […]
Going mental?
It’s bittersweet to see more and more mainstream news outlets cover mental health issues (a step in the right direction) but while using language that perpetuates stereotypes and stigma. A recent NST headlines screamed : “[Exclusive] Overworked souls risk going mental and dying early”. The Oxford Dictionary defines “Going mental” as informal phrase that means […]
The 2018 Health Budget – A new budget, same old story?
The new 2018 budget has been tabled and there is an increase in the Health Ministry 2018 budget from RM 25 billion in 2017 to RM26.58 billion in 2018. Unfortunately we have yet to see a specific mental health allocation in the health budget. There was no mention of increasing mental health resources in Malaysia, […]
The Malaysian perspective on the criminalization of suicide
“Suicide is not a blot on anyone’s name; it is a tragedy.” Due to a lack of awareness on the validity behind mental health issues, there is a tendency for mental illness to be chalked down as ‘something that went wrong’ with the people who dare to share about their struggles. For example, depression […]
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a particular state of awareness cultivated through intentional practice. WHAT IS PARTICULAR ABOUT THIS STATE OF AWARENESS? 1. It is focused on the present moment. Our awareness is usually caught up in thoughts about the past or the future. We therefore cruise through life on autopilot unaware of what’s actually happening now in […]
Relate Let’s Talk: What You Need To Know About Depression
Tell your heart to beat again; because this life is worth fighting for and there are people worth fighting for. On a bright Saturday morning, more than a hundred people showed up for RELATE Malaysia’s talk on the basics of depression. This addition is one of the many of the series of free talks organized […]
