JOHOR Baru Befrienders has seen an increase in requests from schools to organise mental health initiatives, with at least one outreach programme held each month this year.
Its outreach director Danny Loo said this was a huge contrast compared to the past, when it had to jump through hoops just to get permission to carry out talks in schools.
“However, things have now changed.
“Instead of reaching out to them, schools are now the ones coming to us and asking us to conduct outreach programmes related to mental health.
“We are now conducting at least one programme in schools every month and continue to have more schools and other learning institutions such as universities reaching out to us,” he told StarMetro.
Loo said he was glad to see schools playing a more proactive role in addressing mental health issues.
“This shows that there is now better mental health awareness, especially when it involves children and teenagers.
“The alarming rise in tragic incidents, including bullying, that we have seen lately, has also further amplified the need to take mental health issues seriously.”
He said bullying, both physical and online, having too much screen time and exposure to violent games, as well as having juggling parents were some of the factors that could affect the mental health of children and teenagers.
“This is what we learned when we engaged with the children and teenagers during the outreach programmes.
“We also found many of them to be very open to discussing mental health and are well informed.
“In fact, some are also able to tell the difference between conditions such as depression and schizophrenia.
“So, there are some benefits to having access to technology, but it is also a double-edged sword that could do some harm.”
Loo said that apart from schools, Johor Baru Befrienders was seeing more children and teenagers reaching out to the organisation, especially through WhatsApp messages.
“Previously, most callers we received were adults, especially the elderly, while children and teenagers made up less than 10% of our callers.
“However, now we are getting more young adults of around 13 and 17 years old reaching out to us.
“We do receive some calls, but most of them prefer reaching out through WhatsApp messages.
“Our volunteers are now responding to chats from about seven to eight people in a single three-hour shift instead of only about two previously,” he said, adding that about 30% of those reaching out are now from that age group.
Those in need of a listening ear can call Johor Baru Befrienders at 07-267 0707, WhatsApp them at 07-331 2300 or e-mail at sam@befriendersjb.org
They can also reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service at 03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392; Talian Kasih at 15999 or 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp; Islamic Development Department’s family, social and community care centre at 0111-959 8214 on WhatsApp.
Visit Befrienders’ website for a full list of Befrienders numbers nationwide and operating hours.
