A guide to seeking mental health support online

If you (or someone you know) are grappling with mental health issues and wondering how to find the right professional help, here's a handy guide.

Co-authored by Ellen Whyte and Dr Alvin Ng, Reaching Out gives pointers on how to find an online therapist so you can make informed choices.

As it's a public service, Reaching Out goes live on Dec 3 and will be free for the first three days from various online platforms. Links to shops will be available at books2read.com/u/3n88wB (this will be updated on Nov 30 to various places, including Kobo, which all Malaysians can use).

This practical 65-page guide is written by an academic and a practitioner, so you will benefit from a wide perspective.

Ng is a professor of psychology at Sunway University in Subang Jaya, Selangor, and the founding president of the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology. He is also the author of journal articles and scientific publications.

Whyte is a Scottish-Dutch counselling psychologist in Malaysia. She has an international practice with clients based in South-East Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

While both authors are based in Malaysia, they write for an international audience.

Reaching Out answers common questions such as:

> Should I look for a psychiatrist, psychologist, or some other mental health practitioner?

> How can I tell who’s professional and who is out to scam me?

> How do I pick the right person to work with?

> How confidential are sessions?

> What do I need to do to get the most out of therapy?

> Do I need fancy software or can I just Zoom?

As Ng and Whyte take you through the basics, they also offer individual comments and insights.