GEORGE TOWN – Now that the government has announced the decriminalisation of suicide in Malaysia, newly appointed patron of Befrienders Penang, Tan Lean Kee, expects the operators of the helpline and other mental health support providers to become busier.
Tan, who is the wife of Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, welcomed the announcement by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang in Parliament on decriminalising suicide on September 15.
Dagang said that the amendments to decriminalise suicide or suicide attempts are being studied by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, after which they will be tabled in Parliament.
However, Tan said that the abolishment of Section 309 of the Penal Code, which states that attempting suicide is an offence, should be urgently sped up as well.
“I hope that the National Mental Health Strategic Plan to be launched tomorrow, in conjunction with World Mental Health Day will, amongst other things, increase the budgeting allocation for mental health as well as lead to improvements on policies, research, support and services development.
“Also, I hope it aims to ensure everyone has equal access to mental healthcare,” she said at the Befrienders Outreach Knowledge Enhancement programme held today, to equip and provide support for volunteers.
Befrienders Penang chairman, Damian Lee Wan Tong, said there was a 20% increase in calls since the pandemic began, underscoring the great need for the service the organisation is rendering. There were also 53 reported cases of suicide in Penang from January to May 2021.
Befrienders Penang’s outreach director Chew Lay Kean said there has been no upgrading training, team building or social gatherings for experienced Befriender volunteers.
The outreach programme is meant to help gear them up, as they take up three-hour duties every day on top of conducting online outreach programmes.
“We are running cognitive behaviour therapy today to help Befrienders cope with their stress during their Befriending sessions and also during their daily life challenges,” Chew said.
To gain reach and break the stigma of mental illness, Befrienders Penang has organised more than 25 events with students from various universities in the state, namely Universiti Sains Malaysia, University of Wollongong of KDU, and Inti International College Penang, among others.
They have also held events at Health Departments and other places.
Befrienders can be reached at 03-76272929 or [email protected]. The Penang helpline is at 04-2910100 or 011-56706261 (WhatsApp). The federal government’s Talian Kasih hotline is 15999. – The Vibes, October 9, 2021
