GEORGE TOWN – The state government will be launching a course over a period of two straight weekends to train MPs, assemblymen and the public on psychological first aid (PFA) to assist people suffering from mental distress.
The 32-hour course which is set to begin by the end of this month, aims to address the demand for more mental health professionals during the pandemic.
Based on the principles of look, listen and link, the course will equip participants to better identify if people in their family, social or community circles are in need of aid for their mental health.
During PFA’s launch today, Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, who announced the participation of elected representative in the state in the programme, said although measures have been executed to curtail the spread of the Covid-19, cases continue to surge causing normal lives to be disrupted, affecting physical and emotional well-being.
“There are not only those who have lost their jobs but also frontliners battling to save lives every day.
“The lack of a definitive cure has exposed the Malaysian population to significant mental distress, warranting psychological intervention.
“To meet an increasing demand for this, the public can take part in assisting those who need the required care.
“When there is a mentally distressed family member, most may not know what to say or do.
“They need skills and knowledge to assist and connect them to the right support system,” he said.
The awareness, he stressed will help reduce the number of suicide cases in the country.
In addition to including elected representatives, Yeoh also encouraged those in the private sector and community to participate in the course as well.
The program organised by Wawasan Open University’s (WOU) Centre for Foundation Studies in collaboration with the International College of Clinical Hypnosis Practitioners (ICCHP Asia) will continue to run as long as there is a demand.
It is suitable for anyone aged 18 and above who is willing to serve people suffering from emotional distress or stress-related reactions during this pandemic period.
According to ICCHP Asia’s regional director and trainer, Synthia Surin, the course content is based on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines, with certification for those who complete the course coming from WOU and ICCHP.
“It is open to everyone, not just in Penang or Malaysia but worldwide, we already have enquiries from people from overseas,” she said.
The course costs RM1,500 per pax, which is a significant cut from the original course fee of RM5,000 and is available in both English and Bahasa Melayu.
The organisers are also looking into providing the course in Mandarin and Tamil in the future. It is also on its way to being categorised as a claimable course under the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF).
Those interested to sign up for this course can contact the university’s toll-free careline at 1300-888-968 or email Jasmine Emmanuel at [email protected] – The Vibes, August 6, 2021
