“EVERY life is precious,” was the powerful message that has been at the heart of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Sneham Malaysia’s mission since its founding seven years ago, shared its president Datuk Florance Manoranjitham Sinniah.
According to Florance, what began as a small initiative to offer mental health support through a helpline has grown significantly marking its 7th anniversary this year.
“Sneham offers a 48-hour helpline each week operating from 4pm to 8pm daily, providing counselling services to individuals from all walks of life.
“During the lockdown, we expanded our services to operate 24/7 for two full years, and some of our volunteers even supported from their homes.
“We knew that people were facing heightened struggles during that time, and we had to be there for them, no matter the hour.
“Post-pandemic, Sneham has reverted to its regular hours, but the demand continues to grow. Now, as we plan to extend the helpline hours from 3pm to 9pm, we need more volunteers to support our work,” she added.
Florance shared that Sneham is set to hold a fundraising event at Chai Leng Park Multipurpose Hall from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm today.
“The event aims to help expand Sneham’s services, train more volunteers, and ensure the organisation can continue its important work for the community.
“Apart from that, proceeds from the upcoming fundraising event will go toward improving the facility at the psychiatric ward of Klinik Kesihatan Jalan Perak, to provide a more supportive environment for patients in need of mental health care,” Florance added.
The fundraising dinner will be graced by State Housing and Environment Committee Chairman, Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu.
According to Florance,there has been an increase in mental health awareness within the community, though more work still needs to be done.
“While the number of psychiatrists and psychiatric wards has increased, and NGOs continue to contribute actively to mental health efforts, there remains a pressing need for a comprehensive national strategy.
“More accurate data on suicide cases is essential to enable timely and targeted interventions based on specific age groups.This is especially critical as we are seeing a concerning trend of elderly individuals taking their own lives.
“As Malaysia transitions into an ageing nation, Penang too is moving in the same direction, making it increasingly important to address mental health challenges among the elderly,” she added.
Florance shared that Sneham is exploring internship opportunities with small incentives for students who have completed their basic degree in psychology.
“Through their experience working with the community, students can decide whether to continue with the practical side or take the academic path by pursuing a master’s degree in clinical psychology.
“We are actively engaging with universities to provide these opportunities, as they can help students gain valuable experience, especially for those who might be struggling to find jobs after graduation.
“We will also support students who need an attachment as part of their graduation requirements,” Florance added.
As a member of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, and the International Befrienders Network (UK), Florance has gained valuable international exposure, which has helped her raise the standard of Sneham‘s service and present papers at the global conferences.
“In developed countries, people often speak openly about suicidal thoughts, but in our part of the world, such feelings are usually expressed indirectly.
“During a conference organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, in Thailand last year, I presented a paper on breaking the barriers making suicide prevention culturally relevant.
“It is important to understand people and gain their trust. Some prefer to see a traditional healer or medicine man first, and that is okay as long as they also see a medical doctor.
“What matters is finding what works best for them. If we immediately say things like ‘Why do you believe that?’ They may feel hurt, hang up, and they could be someone who is at high risk of suicide.
“Stigma is still strong, especially for conditions like schizophrenia, and many people are more comfortable turning to traditional methods. We need to respect that while still guiding them toward proper care,” she said.
Sneham also offers training on mental health support and volunteerism, and certificates will be provided to all participants upon completion.It also provides outreach programmes in schools.
It is learned that, Sneham has a total of 42 volunteers, of whom 15 handle the helpline, while the remaining are life members.
“We want to show people that it is okay to reach out for help.They do not have to face their problems alone. We are here to listen.
“We hope that more people will join us at our fundraising dinner to help support our cause and make a positive impact on the community,” Florance urged.
For further inquiries about the fundraising event (RM100 per person), please contact 019-5901510 (Santha) 013-4817810 (Saras) and 012-7101952 (Aru).The helpline can be reached at 1800225757 or via WhatsApp at 010-2945722.
Story & Pix by Tanushalini Moroter