KUCHING: The Mental Health Association of Sarawak (MHAS) will hold a ‘Dialogue on Mental Health: Meeting the Needs of Greater Sarawak’ via Facebook Live on Saturday (Oct 16) at 11am.
“We will also attempt to show the unique challenges of meeting mental health needs in Sarawak from a public sector perspective and an non-government organisation perspective.
“Additionally, in the dialogue, we will discuss the access to mental health services and needs as well as create awareness in seeking help for mental health conditions in Sarawak,” MHAS said in its statement on Tuesday (Oct 12).
It disclosed that Hospital Sentosa consultant psychiatrist Dr Syarifah Hafizah Wan Kassim along with Hope Place Kuching Founder Kelvin Wan would be the panelists.
“Dr Syarifah is actively involved in mental health promotion and awareness programmes and industry sponsored research. Her main clinical interest are adult psychiatry particularly Women’s Mental Health, Geriatic Psychiatry, Suicide Prevention, and Community and Rehabilitation.
“Meanwhile, Wan has more than 10 years of experience in dedicating his life to help those who are oppressed rise out of poverty, giving them a shot at a better future.
“Hope Place itself currently takes care of 210 needy families in Kuching and works with various stakeholders in the private and public sector, such as Hospital Sentosa, to assist disadvantaged individuals and families as well as disaster victims.”
It further added that the moderator of the programme would be MHAS chairperson Miri Branch and also a psychiatrist at Miri Hospital, Dr Bawih Inu Pu’un.
“Dr Bawih is a leading figure in mental health action and advocacy in Miri. In the early stages of the pandemic lockdown, She and her team took on the challenges of caring for the psychological well-being of frontliner healthcare workers as well as vulnerable communities in Miri.”
