TU Connect x VOCAL: Mental Health Awareness Forum

The poster for the event. | Source © @connect.tulc on Instagram

As a part of Connect’s month long suicide awareness campaign, the Taylor’s University community collaborated with Taylor’s Speaker’s Corner to provide a platform where suicide prevention and decriminlization in Malaysia could be openly discussed.

The student led initiative, a forum titled ‘Turning monologues into dialogues’ aimed to create a safe space to speak on suicide awareness.

Connect’s Event Director, Hessa Syabirah said, “The main objective behind this forum was to shift the negative perception of suicide that is unfortunately ingrained within our Malaysian society.”

The online session on 8 October 2021, addressed destigmatising suicide and ways on seeking help through the community.

Additionally, they equipped participants with suicide prevention and mitigation tools, and discussed the suicide decriminlisation effort.

The two-hour long virtual event featured knowledgeable guest speakers who provided insights on the social and psychological reasons behind suicide cases, methods to help oneself and others, hotlines available for assistance, and a legal perspective.

Group picture with speakers and participants on the event night. | Source © Hessa Syabirah

The panelists included Justin Victor, Chairman of Befrienders Kuala Lumpur and Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication at Taylor's University, Mohd. Izzat Morshidi, part-time psychology lecturer at the University of Reading Malaysia, Pheh Kai Shuen, a clinical psychologist and lecturer at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and Dato’ Sri M. Ramachelvam, Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, Malaysia.

They shared insightful information with the crowd.

Mohd. Izzat Morshidi said, “It is great that on a governmental level in Malaysia, we are changing our perspective on suicide but it needs to happen on a ground level amongst the people. People need to be okay with talking about suicide.”

Justin Victor said, “Asking an individual about suicide does not encourage them to do it but it opens up the conversation and it gives them a sense of respect.”

Dato’ Sri M. Ramachelvam, concluded his session by stating, “Suicide attemps should not be treated as a crime but as a mental issue.”

Hessa added, “I hope our event was able to shed light on suicide prevention and awareness on a more individual level.”

Vocal’s Event Director, Yap Pui Mun said, “I hope the session has helped to destigmatize suicide and equipped participants with the necessary suicide prevention and mitigation tools. By educating ourselves, we can help save a life.”