RECOGNISING the early signs of mental distress, responding with compassion and providing appropriate support are important, says Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Penang Chapter vice-chairman I Rosaline Heah Gaik See.
She said this at the closing of a talk titled “From Crisis to Care: Mental Health First Response in the Workplace” by Dr Lim Po Ting, consultant psychiatrist at Blue Mind Specialist Clinic, at Cititel Penang today.
She added that this year’s World Mental Health Day serves as an important reminder that mental health is not merely an individual concern, but a shared responsibility.
“As a community, we must continue to break the stigma surrounding mental health, encourage open and meaningful conversations, and ensure that everyone has access to the support and care they need.
“The workplace should be an environment where people feel safe to speak up, seek help and receive the support they need without fear of judgement or discrimination,” Heah said.
She thanked Dr Lim for his insightful and informative presentation, organising chairman Ng Kah Boon for his dedication, leadership and hard work, and Cititel Penang for sponsoring the venue.
In his talk, Dr Lim said friends helping someone in distress should listen without judgement and encourage the person to seek appropriate professional help if necessary.
“You should be clear about your goal. You are there to make the person feel better and feel heard. You are never there to give advice, at least not until you are asked.”
He said offering unsolicited advice can make the person feel that their problems are not being fully understood. It can also make matters worse by giving the impression that their problems are easy to resolve.
Listening to someone in distress, he added, will go a long way towards helping the person feel better.
“The first thing to do is always to acknowledge their problems. When we are training to become psychiatrists, we are taught a set of things to say to a person who is in distress, such as, ‘I see that things are difficult’, ‘I hear that this must be very difficult’, and ‘I can’t imagine what you have been going through’.
“This goes to show that you recognise the person’s emotions and empathise with them. This helps the person feel better,” he said.
Cititel Penang general manager Muhammad Amir Hisham Abdullah said the hotel was honoured to support MRCS Penang’s meaningful initiative to highlight the importance of mental health awareness and well-being, particularly in the workplace.
He said that in today’s fast-paced working environment, mental health is just as important as physical health.
“Workplace stress, emotional challenges and personal responsibilities can affect anyone, regardless of their position or background.
“At Cititel, we believe a healthy workplace begins with employees who feel valued, respected and supported. By promoting mental health awareness, we can build a stronger team, a healthier workplace and a more compassionate society,” he said.
Also present at the talk were HRD Corp representative Mohd Firdaus Abu Daud, Penang Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) representative Norazzura Saari, officers and members of MRCS Penang Chapter and branches.
Story and pix by K.H. Ong