Which do you think is more important? Mental health or physical health?
Ok I am not asking you to respond with an essay to me, debating this out. Haha. I just wanted to point out that I believe, both are equally as important. In fact, mental health may even bring about excellent physical health.
Just recently, a person close to us was diagnosed with cancer. We were more than willing to help him get back on his feet. We offered him a place to stay, sent him to hospital for radiotherapy treatment everyday, encouraged him, did everything in our capacity to help. After two months of us taking care of him, he went home for a short break. The doctor said he needed three weeks of rest before he could continue on his chemotherapy treatment. So we thought we could all rest for three weeks. Just into the first week of this break, we received news that he passed away. He looked like he was progressing well and responding well to his treatments so I thought long and hard on what could be the cause of his death and after one day, I thought to myself, it could be a psychological one because I could sense that he was really down at times. Hence I thought the cancer got serious and he did not have the will to fight and therefore succumbed to illness. The next day, I received the shock of my life when we received news that he actually committed suicide. It breaks my heart to even write this now. We suspected that he could not handle the pressure and always thought that he was and will be a burden to us and his family and decided to take his own life. Till now we do not really know what went through his mind leading to his decision to end his life.
I have always sort of wanted to tell this story here but never really know how because I was still dealing with the shock that came with this news and the sad reality that he is no longer here.
However, I think right now is a good opportunity to share this story, in conjunction with HELP World Mental Health Day. And the theme this year, which I can relate to really well, is Depression: Suicide.
When Ai Ting told me about this event and asked me if I wanted to write about it, I immediately agreed because right now it's a cause that I support.
HELP World Mental Health Day is organised by a group of psychology students to raise public awareness on mental health and its importance. The keyword here is AWARENESS. If we are all aware of depression and its symptoms, we could always lend a helping hand or seek professional help on this matter. It is often that we don't recognise depression and its symptoms, and often, only when it's too late, do we know that the people we cared about were indeed suffering from depression.
The team has done very good job in promoting HELP World Mental Health Day thus far.
First flash mob in One Utama.
A teaser on HELP World Mental Health Day.
It's weird, I thought I hang out in One Utama very often but I missed the flash mob. Hahahah. :P
The BIG event will be on 12th-13th October 2012 at Piazza, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara. This team of courageous HELP students have lined up many activities leading to this big day so be sure to spot them around!
How to get involved?
2) Follow HELP World Mental Health Day blog.
3) Watch their Youtube videos on WMHDProductions.
4) Tell your family and friends about this.
5) Show your support by attending the roadshows.
This is the upcoming roadshow to promote the cause and raise funds.
So maybe you could drop by!
But, I'm very sorry to tell you that I do not know where is KPD A.
Ask them on their Facebook page ok. Only HELP students will know I guess. Hhehe.
And I heard, a second flash mob is coming to you real soon!!
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