THE recent hike in the reported cases of suicide in Malaysia has sent alarm signals across the country, and it becomes clear that a big part of the COVID-19 pandemic is a mental health crisis, said the Green Ribbon Group.
“As a group of four women who are not professionals, and as a platform that does not offer services, we have put a lot of thought into how we could contribute and support those who are struggling during this very difficult time,” said the group in a statement today.
The Green Ribbon Group is a social enterprise that aims to help push the mental health agenda forward in Malaysia.
Founded by YAM Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan and Puteri Nor Ariane Yasmin in January 2021, the group is raising awareness, fundraising and collaborating for mental health in partnership with the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA).
As such, the group has rolled out ‘A Conversation on Suicide’, a two-hour nationwide suicide prevention ‘training’ programme for community leaders, specifically members of Rukun Tetangga, Resident Associations and Management Committee members of high-rise residential buildings with a particular focus on Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) flats.
The ‘training’ programme aims to create suicide prevention awareness and offer interim help to those you suspect may be having suicidal tendencies.
“We aim to target small groups of ten to participate in this conversation that will be facilitated by enlisted trained volunteers.
“These volunteers will be trained by MMHA during a single two-hour session. MMHA has also kindly crafted the intervention guide for ‘A Conversation on Suicide’, with the Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Make It Right Movement contributing videos incorporated into the training module.”
According to The Green Ribbon Group co-founder and president YAM Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah, ‘A Conversation on Suicide’ is the group’s humble contribution towards the country’s mitigation and recovery efforts.
“My intention has always been to push for a community approach to mental health, which is exactly what ‘A Conversation on Suicide’ aims to achieve.
“This module is a game-changer, and it is most timely. We must get the message across that suicides can be talked about, that suicidal ideations can be overcome and that suicides are preventable.” – Aug 16, 2021
