Campaign to promote mental health discussions

(From left) Ho, Sharifah and Selangor FC goalkeeper Samuel Somerville are some of the key opinion leaders who will be sharing their experiences in mental health, during the #SembangKalauBimbang campaign.

AIR Selangor has launched #SembangKalauBimbang (loosely translated as chat about your worries), a campaign to promote mental well-being nationwide.

The National Health and Morbidity Survey reported that one in three Malaysians admitted having mental issues, yet 80% of those surveyed did not reach out to seek help because of deep-rooted beliefs and fear of backlash from the community.

These problems extend into the workforce where 50% of Malaysian employees feel uncomfortable discussing mental health issues, and 49% of them are afraid that they will face repercussions upon sharing.

Mental health is a complex issue requiring coordinated effort to make a meaningful difference.

For this reason, Air Selangor is partnering with Selangor Football Club, social enterprise We Love You Box and non- governmental organisations Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA), Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association (Miasa), Nyawa, and Malaysia Medical Association (MMA) Selangor to ensure the campaign provides safe spaces for sharing and more support channels to the need for more resources and volunteers.

In a statement, Air Selangor acting chief executive officer Abas Abdullah said the water services provider recognised that well-being encompassed physical health and mental health.

“We hope that through this campaign, we can create a supportive and healthy workplace and at the same time, encourage employees and the public at large to seek help when needed,” he said.

The launch video featured Selangor FC captain Brendan Gan, as well as speaker sessions by mental health professionals, with support from NGO representatives, and opinion leaders.

The campaign aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 by promoting better health and well-being.

The campaign will primarily be driven by a social movement led by more than six key opinion leaders, including Ustaz Mizi Wahid, content creator Zachary Cheah, actress Sharifah Aleya, singer Santesh Kumar, content creator Brandon Ho and social activist Adrian Edy.

They will kick off the #SembangKalauBimbang social media challenge and talk about their personal experiences in mental issues while encouraging others to do the same.

Air Selangor corporate communication head Elina Baseri said, “Seeking help for mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s a process that requires emotional support from us.

“We have to remind them that they are not alone. I hope our #SembangKalauBimbang campaign will provide the right channels for those in need,” she said.