BEFRIENDERS Penang, which was formed 43 years ago, has earned praise for providing emotional support and listening to people experiencing loneliness, misery, despair or depression to prevent suicides.
Tan Lean Kee, the newly-appointed patron of Befrienders Penang, thanked all the volunteers for their passion and compassion to reach out to those feeling overwhelmed with issues they are encountering in their lives.
“In their hour of darkness, despair and hopelessness, you are their lifeline and you give them hope. I salute all of you for your noble works,” Tan, who is the wife of Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, said in her speech before officiating the virtual Outreach Knowledge Enhancement Programme today.
“However, as you give of yourself to help others, it is vital to take care of your own well-being, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
“Taking short breaks, having a peer’s support group would help prevent burnout.”
Tan added that it was a privilege for her to be given the opportunity to serve and be associated with the esteemed organisation which was established in 1978 by the late Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew.
She said she could foresee Befrienders Penang and other mental health providers would be busier since a number of people experiencing anxiety, suicidal inclination, depression, and other related mental health issues has increased significantly in the past two years.
Tan also complimented Outreach director Chew Lay Kean and her team for organising the programme today to appreciate all the volunteers and trainees for their tireless service.
Befrienders Penang chairperson Damien Lee said they were fortunate to find a patron who is as passionate in preventing suicides as they are and the support Tan gave during their previous public forum “Lost All Hope; Suicide Ideation & Stigma” in 2019 to the “Someone For Every One” series of workshops.
He said during this Covid-19 pandemic, more working adults are in distress, from losing their jobs or wages cut, to not being able to operate their businesses.
Many students, he said, are also stressed by not being able to follow online lessons for not having the resources and are unhappy and under pressure.
“From our statistics, we noticed a 20% increase in calls compared to the same period before the pandemic. This is an indicator that Malaysians are suffering through these times.
“The reported 53 cases of suicide in Penang from January until May in 2021 alone shows that there is a great need for what we do. One life lost to suicide is already one too many,” Lee said in his speech.
He added they have always tried to remain out of the limelight because for many of them, they serve not for the recognition but for self-satisfaction, that they have somehow made a difference in the lives of someone during the brief period over their telephone conversation.
For the volunteers, Lee said the experience in managing to save a life is something that money cannot buy.
“You are our superheroes, but without cape or superpowers. And we could not do without all the volunteers. There are people here for decades and there are some who have been here a few months ago,” Lee added.
Chew, who is also the organising chairperson, said Befrienders Penang has 80 qualified befrienders and 18 trainees.
She said each befriender takes turn for three-hour duties from 3pm to 6pm, 6pm to 9pm and 9pm to midnight, seven days a week.
This year alone, Chew added, they had carried out 25 events with students from various universities and colleges, like USM, University of Wollongong and Inti.
Chew also thanked the Pertubuhan Wanita Mutiara for supporting today’s Outreach Knowledge Enhancement Programme.
It was a fruitful one in which Datuk Dr Lai Foong Hwa, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and his wife, Datin Indranee Liew, a behaviour management trainer and consultant, shared on techniques of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
Other speakers included Elsie Thum (poem recital), Lee Boon Tong (grounding techniques), Jocelyn Tan (outreach work by Mandarin team), Low Ming Kim (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Screening administration), training director Dr Kala Devi (Face-to-face Befriending), Khusairi Ariffin (motivation) and S. Krishnan, Tye Yuik Chun, Jeremy Tee and Leow Hoay Yee (outreach experiences).
A repeat session of the programme will be held on Oct 17 (Sunday) for those who could not make it for today’s session.
Story by K.H. Ong