MENTAL WELLNESS: IT TAKES A VILLAGE TOO!

Shah Alam, 28 June 2023 – The phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” is often associated with the ideal ecosystem for the wholesome upbringing of children. The Gardenia KL Wellness Begins At Home 2023 survey and panel discussion revealed that it also takes a village to create a positive environment to support one’s mental health. This includes families and the wider community.

According to the survey, 19% of respondents felt “very happy”, 35% felt “satisfied but not very happy”. Meanwhile 40.3% of respondents felt their happiness was a “work in progress”, and the remaining 5.7% of respondents felt “unhappy” about their life currently.

“Emotions are normal because we are all human. However, it’s no longer normal when these emotions affect our ability to function daily or when normal effortless tasks feel extremely challenging to complete. This change in behaviour is an indicator of when a person needs to seek help,” explains Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association (MIASA) President, Anita Abu Bakar.

Further analysis of the survey findings observed that seniors aged 56 years of age and above (44%) and married respondents with families (33.1%) were most inclined to feel happy compared to other respondent groups. The common denominator of both groups was the presence of a support system, be it a spouse or family members.

“Families are important. It may not necessarily mean family members related by blood only. It can extend to families at the workplace and even in the community. For me, we view each other as family in the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) community. For example, if a fellow parent is unwell and their child with disabilities requires help, we lend a helping hand because we understand their needs,” shares We&I Art Founder, Zuraini Anuar, who is a single mother of three, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.

Malaysian ace track cyclist, Dato’ Azizulhasni Awang, who was also part of the Gardenia KL Wellness Begins At Home 2023 panel discussion, spoke about his support system. “The period I had to undergo corrective heart surgery was a very challenging time for me; emotionally I felt at my lowest. I am extremely grateful to have such a strong support system in my wife, children, and family as well as my teammates and coach. Along with this support, I took the initiative to reach out for help and this got me through this challenging time. Similarly, periods when I am away from my family can be challenging but I find that keeping communication lines open is important and possible with technology. Another approach I take is to sit with my team and coach for a session to express myself and release any emotions of sadness or disappointment. It helps by sharing it with people we trust,” said the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist cyclist.

To catch the full video of Gardenia ‘Wellness Begins at Home’ discussion, visit @GardeniaKL’s Facebook and Youtube

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to MIASA via www.miasa.org.my which offers mental health assessment and consultation, counselling services, spiritual therapy, therapeutic assessment, psychological services, and peer support. Alternatively, contact the MIASA 24-hour helpline at 1-800-820-066.