(From left) Dr Andrew, Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah, Che Puan Muda Zaheeda and MMHA Kedah coordinator Dr Syamsul Amir Abdul Manaf.
Greater attention must be given to women’s mental health advocacy.
Raja Puan Muda of Kedah Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff said this could buffer the emotional strain generally faced by women who juggled being professionals, caregivers, mothers and daughters.
“Although women may be more willing than men to seek help, they still face stigma and often do not have enough support.
“We need to create an environment where women are free to speak about their struggles without fear of judgment,” said Che Puan Muda Zaheeda, who consented to becoming Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) royal patron.
She said a strong support system must be readily available and accessible – at the workplace, within the community and through the healthcare system.
On the stigma surrounding mental health, Che Puan Muda Zaheeda said it remained one of the greatest barriers preventing people from seeking help.
She said the first step to change this was through education and open conversation with leaders, educators and public figures speaking about the importance of mental health.
“This sends a powerful message of acceptance. The media too has a responsibility to shape respectful and compassionate narratives.
“We must normalise conversations about mental well-being just as we do with physical health,” she added.
Che Puan Muda Zaheeda said the more mental healthcare was discussed with empathy and understanding, the sooner the stigma would give way to support and hope.
She voiced her concerns on the rising suicide cases among young people, which she said must be handled with utmost seriousness.
She said youth now faced immense pressure from academic demands, family challenges and the adverse influence of social media.
“They need to know that help is readily available and it is okay for them to reach out.”
On her role in the MMHA, Che Puan Muda Zaheeda said she was delighted to be appointed royal patron, as she saw the need to mainstream the conversation on mental health in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, MMHA president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj said despite growing awareness of the importance of mental health, advocacy groups were struggling for visibility and influence.
That is why, he said, there was a need for organisations such as MMHA to amplify reach, collaborate with decision makers and legitimise the cause to funders and supporters.
“We are truly honoured to have Tuanku Raja Puan Muda Kedah as our royal patron.
“Tuanku has always shown deep concern for mental health issues in Malaysia, especially in relation to youth,’’ he said.
He added that MMHA established the Kedah Mental Health Association, that was launched earlier in the week, under Che Puan Muda Zaheeda’s patronage.
“Tuanku’s involvement lends not only credibility but also inspiration to our mission of setting up a mental health association in every Malaysian state,” he said.
Currently, Selangor, Perak and Kedah have mental health associations under the MMHA umbrella.
At the event, Dr Andrew’s book A Journey Through Mental Health and Society was launched by the Raja Muda of Kedah Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin, who had penned the foreword.
