GEORGE TOWN: IN light of the rising number of suicide cases, the National Council of Befrienders Malaysia (NCOBM) would organise a conference titled “Social Stigmatisation of Depression and Suicide” on Oct 12.
The event, which is held on the last day of NCOBM’s two-day conference, would take place at Hotel Four Points in Tanjung Bungah.
The conference is open to the first 200 participants and places would be offered based on a first- come, first-served basis.
Organising chairman of the event, Dr Florance Sinniah said the conference is aimed to create awareness of the stigma and prejudice that stem from poor understanding of mental illness.
“Befrienders Penang have been involved in mental health work by providing emotional support and a listening ear to the depressed, lonely and suicidal.
“Those suffering from mental health condition are usually reluctant to seek help and resort to isolation. They also have to battle prevailing social stigma and other negative attitude society has against them,” she said at Hospice Society here.
Dr Sinniah said the conference would aim to:
l To create public awareness that mental illness is a cognitive condition and decrease community rejection of those suffering from mental issues.
l To understand the impact of stigma on people with mental illness.
l To improve care of people with mental illness and associated symptoms such as suicidal tendencies through early intervention.
l Promote awareness of support systems, safe reporting and how to detect behaviourial changes.
Consultant neuro-behavourial physician Dr Prem Kumar Chandrekaran expressed concern over the rising number of suicide cases in Malaysia and the need to address the matter urgently.
“Most people committing suicide are between the age of 12 and 40. Many of them are stressed out and tend to act on impulse,” he said.
The conference would include a number of experts in the field of mental health, including those who had suffered mental health condition and recovered.
For details, call Dr Sinniah at 012-4985 722 or Cheung Kwan Leng at 016-4454 628.