Princess sets up foundation to push for mental health

Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al Sultan Abdullah.

KUALA LUMPUR: International patron for World Mental Health Day Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah has founded a social enterprise called the Green Ribbon Group to help push the mental health agenda forward in Malaysia.

The Green Ribbon Group said the foundation aimed to empower stakeholders involved in raising awareness of the monumental mental health issues people currently face and in creating viable solutions through advocacy, fundraising and collaboration.

“Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan is passionate and committed to the promotion of mental health. She believes, now more than ever, that access to mental healthcare is fundamental in ensuring the well-being of our society for generations to come, given the rise in stress, anxiety and depression from socio-economic issues faced by all as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, ” the statement said yesterday.

Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan was appointed the international patron for World Mental Health Day after accepting the invitation from the World Federation for Mental Health recently. Her royal patronage will run until October 2021.

According to the statement, Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan, who is also the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s eldest daughter, has presented her redesigned green ribbon pin to leaders in diverse fields to help raise awareness and boost positive participation in mental health advocacy.

They include Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, singers Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Sheila Majid, and diver Pandelela Rinong.

“Malaysia has the unique opportunity to contribute to global standards in mental healthcare, and this starts with national awareness and institutional changes here at home, ” Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan was quoted as saying in the statement.

The statement said Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan’s efforts had been recognised by the World Federation for Mental Health, the World Health Organisation and other United Nations agencies. — Bernama