Overwhelming Response for Mental Health Awareness Talk

The mental health awareness talk with the title ‘You Are Not Alone’ has received overwhelming response with more than 110 people who joined the event on the evening of Sept 20, 2019.

There were worshippers from various churches such as Chin Fu Methodist Church, Trinity Methodist Church and RC Blessed Sacrament Church who came to attend the talk at TTMC’s Tabuan Laru’s sanctuary.

The event was organised as part of the social concern month to increase the awareness of the people with regards to depression and church goers about the importance to care for the people who showed signs of depression.

Dr. Sheri Lim from Friday Night’s Small Group who is a general medical practitioner shared about the signs and symptoms of people who are depressed such as for instance having loss of interest in work, having suicidal thoughts and sense of worthlessness.

She also explained that what are the criteria which enable a person to be classified as having depression and what are the emotional and behavioural symptoms to be aware of.

Moreover, she also shared about her own work experience dealing with patients who had been suffering from depression and how the medical professions handled it.

Dr. Lim pointed out that not all people who have exhibited some of those symptoms are considered as having depression as some of those could be due to sadness or mood swing.

She encouraged those who are depressed to seek help with the public or private hospitals as the mental health problem can be dealt with.

Meanwhile, Sister Joyce Lu who is a Malaysian registered psychotherapist shared about the topic, Hope for Depression.

At first, she described about her childhood and upbringing from a poor family.

Then, she also shared about her mother who had depression and dementia in her old age.

She related her own experience taking care of her mother and how she constantly talked to her mother and give joy to her through words of encouragement and the things or food that she likes to eat.

Lu said, “The worst fear in life is not death but despair. A person’s end is God’s beginning,” she said.

As a Christian, she cited two Bible verses which she firmly believes brings hope to the people for instance, Psalms 62:5 said, “My soul find rest in God, my hope come from Him” and Jobs 13:15 which said, “Though he slay me, yet I will have hope in Him.”

She urged those who feel depressed to have the courage to seek help as the mental health problem can be overcome.

She also suggested those who feel depressed to shift their mindset and have positive thinking.

Lu believed that by having positive thinking, it will lead the person to have a gradual behavioural change in their lives and also a sense of good feelings such as love, hope and faith.

Moreover, Lu also encouraged those who feel depressed to express it out emotionally by talking to their close friends and the people who they trust so they can relieve themselves.

At the same time, Lu highlighted several ways to get the better of it which include exercise regularly, having support group, seeking psychotherapy treatment, self-care and obtaining psycho-education.

Towards the end, there was an interactive question and answer session with many eager to get to know more about what can be done to help the people who are depressed and how they can handle the situations better if they do come across it.

The crowd that attended the mental health talk on September 20 at TTMC’s Tabuan Laru’s sanctuary.

Sister Audrey Leong who was the organising chairman for the event and the Small Group Coordinator gave a brief introduction of the speakers before the talk started.

Dr. Sheri Lim shared about the signs and symptoms of the persons who are depressed to the crowd.

Sister Joyce Lu wows the crowd with her presentation skills in front of the worship hall.

Some volunteers were asked to participate in an activity by Sister Joyce Lu (centre) during the talk.

(From left) Rev. Poh Chin Sing gave a token of appreciation to Dr. Sheri Lim and Sister Joyce Lu for their effort in delivering a wonderful talk to the crowd while Sister Audrey Leong looks on.

By: Bro Adrian Lim.