A listening ear

Many suffering from depression feel hopeless, especially when they don’t know where to get help. Photo posed by model. ― Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

WHEN the movement control order (MCO) was imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Alice (not her real name) in her 20s was having problems at work.

Being new on the job and inexperienced, she felt helpless and was stressed about her work performance.

As the eldest child in her family, she did not want to burden her parents who had three younger children to support.

When she turned to one of her close friends for advice, the friend sensed during the phone call that Alice was depressed and having suicidal thoughts.

Alice’s friend immediately rang up the hotline of Penang Care Society (PgCare Society) for help.

Its co-chairman Dr Ngoo Seong Boon said the organisation managed to contact Alice’s family after learning that she was planning to take her life.

“Her friend called us as she was worried that Alice would resort to self-harm.

“Based on what her friend told us, we deduced that Alice was not stable as she had suggested wanting to end her life,” he said, adding that through collective effort they managed to get her family to be with her.

“Otherwise, things could have turned out differently. There have been many such calls but this one stood out as intervention was done in the nick of time,” said Ngoo.

Since the helpline was established, he said there had been countless calls at odd hours from people wanting to only talk and share their problems.

“Sometimes when they cannot reach other NGOs (non-governmental organisation) they call us.

“Cases like these show how important mental health awareness is and how something can be done to help (those who are struggling),” he added.

In an unrelated incident last year, a house in Bayan Lepas, Penang, was partially crushed by an uprooted tree during a storm.

After learning about the incident, PgCare Society members called the Penang Island City Council, Malaysian Civil Defence Force and some volunteers to help clear the tree.

The Batu Maung and Bayan Baru service centres of elected representatives were also informed.

In both instances, PgCare Society acted as a liaison between the public and the resources.

Ngoo said the society gave cash to the family so that they could rebuild their home.

“The family, including some elderly members, had been living there for more than 20 years.

“We want people to be able to return to their normal lives,” he said.

Challenging times

As the White Flag movement gained momentum in July 2021, Ngoo said there was a realisation that NGOs were helping out but their roles seemed to overlap.

“We noticed there was an imbalance. Some areas were getting ample aid but others living in remote places complained that help was slow to reach them,” he elaborated.

He said PgCare Alliance was formed on Aug 11, 2021, to provide support to those affected by the pandemic.

“We teamed up with people from various fields and organisations as well as with local assemblymen and found ways to reach those in need.”

Ngoo, businessman Chong Soon Kheng, Penang welfare and environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh and state tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin were among those who kickstarted the initiative and coordinated the organisations under PgCare Alliance.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is PgCare Alliance’s adviser, while Phee is co-chairman. Yeoh and Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng are the deputies.

What started as an effort by businessmen friends to help coordinate the distribution of rations has now grown into multiple branches to help Penang citizens post-pandemic.

Datuk Seri Leslie Lee leads the mental health task force while Datuk Jimmy Ong is in charge of job aid, Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai is on financial aid and Felix Chuah Gim Chuan on food and shelter aid.

Among the society’s 18 partner NGOs are D’Home Mental Health Association, Befrienders Penang, Penang Sneham Malaysia Welfare Organisation, Kiwanis Club of Penang, Women’s Centre for Change, Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia, Hope Worldwide, Home Dynamics, Agape Counselling, Than Hsiang Association and Junior Chamber International Penang.

The alliance also includes the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Malaysian Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta), and Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Together, they have one aim – to channel aid and resources quickly based on four focal services, which are mental health, jobs, food and basic necessities as well as financial needs, to those in need in Penang.

An integrated digital platform was set up to ease communications between alliance partners, elected representatives’ service centres and those in need of assistance.

Ngoo said the alliance started its own careline at the peak of the pandemic, as others were overwhelmed.

“We received calls from people in distress as the pandemic had taken a toll on their mental health.

“Our volunteers worked from home, picking up calls and helping those who needed someone to talk to during hard times.

“We even helped to connect people who could loan oximeters and oxygen concentrators to those in need.

“We organised online talks on mental health for people as they could not leave their homes to seek help,” he added.

Going strong

Since its formation almost two years ago, the alliance, which has since been renamed PgCare Society, is still operating in Harbour Trade Centre on Gat Lebuh Macallum and now has 28 partners.

It has received calls from 7,687 people since its inception, delivered 1,207 food packs to those in need and successfully referred 95 people for jobs.

Ngoo said the NGO was focusing on five core areas – mental health, job aid, food aid and shelter, virtual care and traditional Chinese medicine.

He said the partners were now working to address mental health, food aid, financial and employment issues which arose during the pandemic.

“We collaborate with the state government to support institutions, schools and the community, to help with obtaining work and food aid besides coping with mental stress.

“Come to us if you need food. If you need a job, we can match you to the right one.

“We are here to connect people to the right resources,” he added.

Mental health ‘first aid’

During the pandemic, Befrienders Penang received a large number of calls and D’Home Mental Health Association also received a spike in calls for help.

Ngoo said Alice’s case prompted him to do something to improve public mental health post-pandemic.

“We realised how important it is for friends and family to identify signs of distress.

“This is why we are planning to introduce a certified programme called ‘Mental Health First Aid’ to train people to notice a decline in someone’s mental health.

“This way, there will be predictive measures rather than preventive ones,” he said.

Ngoo said the alliance worked with Penang government to launch the mobile app PlusVibes.

It is an all-in-one online platform for mental health and well-being that integrated mental health associations and volunteers on one platform.

“Our aim is to break mental health stereotypes and stigmas in the community and to provide an avenue for people to anonymously seek advice or encouragement,” said Ngoo.

He said there were 300 qualified counsellors who could help people via the app.

While the primary focus is to help Penang residents, the app can be used by anyone.

“We want to collect data to help us better understand mental health issues faced here and to identify which age group needs more care,” he said.

Ngoo said the alliance was funded by individuals and companies.

“The state is also funding our mental health training courses and its initial operations,” he said, reiterating that PGCare’s aim was to help people make a return to normalcy.

He also said that the NGO was open to new challenges and ways to help people.

For more information, visit www.pgcarealliance.com