DRAFT Media Release

29th March 2017

ATTN: Jennifer Kelly Kiu

Editor

Borneo Post

The Health of The Mind Matters

Miri: As mental health issues become increasingly prevalent in society

today, Mental Health Association (MHA) Miri is striving to raise

awareness among the Miri community regarding the cruciality of

mental health as well as to raise funds for the association.

Mental health is believed to be the main health issue to plague

Malaysians by 2020, following after heart diseases, thus MHA wants to

encourage Miri citizens to actively involve themselves in the recovery

process of people facing mental illnesses.

Firstly, MHA needs the public to understand the significance in

diagnosing the symptoms and behavior disorders in the early stages so

that the period of recovery can be shortened.

According to Dr. Mohd Suhaimi, a senior lecturer of psychology and human

development studies, individuals with depression will tend to isolate

themselves from people and in more extreme cases, individuals may

experience unpredictable mood swings and aggressive behavior.

Therefore, to achieve these objectives, MHA offers a variety of

programmes and activities namely counselling services, rehabilitation

programs, mental health promotions and educational programs to

provide opportunities for the community to partake.

Associate Professor Dato' Dr. Mohanraj, once said that treating

someones symptoms alone will only create an empty soul, and the

purpose of psychosocial rehabilitation is to ensure that individuals are

able to live out a fulfilling life for both themselves and their loved ones.

MHA believes strongly that many people can be saved from mental

illnesses given that early medical attention is sought.

Moreover, MHA has also organized a charity dinner on the 22 nd April

2017, at Imperial Hotel Miri in an effort to raise funds to support the

 needs of the association as well as to appreciate the people who have

supported MHA.

Anyone can fall victim to this common issue without being cognizant of

the condition until progressed much further, thus MHA wants everyone

to be part of this movement and ameliorate the mental health matters

in Miri.

For additional information, do not hesitate to look up on Facebook with

the hashtag #myyinsights or visit the official website itself at

www.myyinsights.com.

- END -

For further enquiries:

Janice Ng Jun Yu

Senior Public Relations Consultant

Mental Health Association Miri

Tel : (085) 721239

Email: jy021_ng@mha.my

Dr Muhamad Hatim bin Abd Razak

Medical officer, psychiatry department

Mental Health Association Miri

Tel : (085) 759241

Email: hatim101az@mha.my
Dr Bawih Inu Puun

Chairperson

Mental Health Association Miri

Tel : (085) 753811

Email: bawih63puun@mha.my