Subsidised therapy for Bukit Gasing folk

The BUKIT Gasing assemblyman’s office is offering constituents a maximum of five therapy sessions in collaboration with Relate Mental Health Malaysia.

Relate Malaysia is a registered body that offers online psychotherapy to Malaysians.

Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran said his office received many enquiries on mental health-related concerns, and spousal as well as financial problems.

“Bukit Gasing constituents can apply for the service and we will subsidise RM50 for each session, which may cost about RM150 for a 50-minute session with a professional at Relate.

“My office has allocated about RM5,000 for this service.

“We want to offer more if we can get sponsorships to assist the residents,” he said.

Relate Mental Health Malaysia founder and clinical psychologist Dr Chua Sook Ning said people living with depression, anxiety or trauma had found the past one year extremely tough to deal with.

“With increased isolation, the demand for mental health support has been significantly higher by three fold, as many are desperate for help,” she noted.

She said a major misconception that people had of seeking help was that there had to be “something wrong” with them.

“People need help for all kinds of reasons, many of which are not clinical.

“If you feel prolonged feelings of hopelessness, sadness, anxiety or stress, it is a sign that you need support.

“These feelings are perfectly normal but if they are constant, it can suggest underlying issues that need to be addressed.

“Similarly, if you have changes in your sleep or eating patterns, or experience a loss of pleasure in activities you previously enjoyed, these can also be signs to seek help,” she explained.

“Allow yourself to rest when needed. When you feel like you are not up to doing anything, that is okay.

“Do whatever you are comfortable with doing as that makes it easier for you,” added Dr Chua.

For details on the therapy sessions subsidy, visit https://forms.gle/HXNaBp1mQs7TYLYq6

For help in dealing with domestic violence or any kind of abuse, call Talian Kasih on 15999, Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) on 03-3000 8858 or All Women’s Action Society (Awam) on 03-7877 4221.