KUCHING: Following the Covid-19 outbreak, the aftermath of the pandemic on public health is expected to be challenging.
In response to the pandemic, a psychosocial project called Safe Space Covid-19 Malaysia has been initiated by Dr Rachel Ting Sing Kiat, a senior clinical psychologist and also lecturer from Monash University, along with other professionals including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, licensed counsellors, palliative care physicians, public health researchers, volunteers from various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as leaders from religious institutions.
Safe Space Covid-19 Malaysia, founded in March, allows affected individuals to have a platform to process their psychological distress.
The target populations of this programme are healthcare workers, patients, persons-under-investigation (PUIs) and families of the patients/PUI.
The objectives of the programme are to bridge the current gaps of services and to reduce the risk of developing mental disorders among these high-risk populations through psychosocial supportive measures and community intervention.
They also hope to build sustainable networks of support for these key populations by linking community resources with public hospitals.
In order to provide comprehensive psychosocial services to the affected populations, a bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework has been adopted in implementing the project.
There are four support groups led by mental health professionals to assist these individuals to support each other through Facebook or chatrooms.
Stress reduction activities are also scheduled to help them to pass time more meaningfully.
Along the way, mental health and social needs will be identified and they will be linked to various services such as medical departments, welfare departments, or other NGO partners.
With these resources, it is believed that this three-month holistic mental health service will be helpful to increase the resilience of these target populations, empower hospital resources, and indirectly facilitate the management of the Covid-19 crisis.
The team has since recruited over 300 volunteers comprising registered counsellors and other mental health professionals from all over Malaysia.
They are mostly equipped with active listening skills, counselling skills, and other relevant skills such as arts and music.
To ensure the quality of the service, there will be regular supervisions on case management.
The public can be assured that all correspondences will be handled confidentially.
Those who are interested in joining can refer to their Facebook page, Safe Space Covid-19 Malaysia. They may also join any of the relevant closed groups by visiting the following Facebook links:
Healthcare or hospital workers (clinical or support team): https://www.facebook.com/groups/safespacehealthcareworkers/
Patients/PUI of Covid-19 (confidential group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/safespacepatientspui/
Families of Covid-19 patients/PUI:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/safespacefamilyofpatients/
Bereavement group (confidential group) for those who have lost their loved ones to Covid-19:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/safespacebereavement/
