KUCHING: A crisis negotiator has suggested creating teams of negotiators to help people who are struggling, especially those thinking about suicide.
These teams should be placed in various locations throughout Sarawak.
Dr. Gilbert Wong said that in order to effectively assist individuals who are feeling suicidal, it’s important to have a diverse team of professionals who can work together.
This team, according to him, should include firefighters, police officers, mental health experts, school advisers, emergency doctors, public health officers, and volunteers from mental health non-profit organisations.
“Each of these professionals brings their own skills and expertise to ensure the safety and support of the person in distress. By working together, they can make sure that the rescue and assistance efforts are coordinated and effective,” said Dr. Wong.
He said this during a training session for 32 frontline officers and mental health volunteers, which recently took place at the Borneo Cultures Museum here.
The training was organised by the #ZeroSuicideSarawak initiative, a collaborative effort involving the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at Hospital Miri and Social Development Council of Sarawak.
The training, led by Dr. Wong from Hong Kong, was funded by the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Well-being Development, with support from AWAS (Awareness Against Suicide).
“With strong support and funding from the government, we aim to effectively handle these challenging situations and provide the help that distressed individuals need,” said Dr. Ravivarma Rao Panirselvam, a psychiatrist leading the #ZeroSuicideSarawak campaign.
Illustrating, he pointed to difficulties faced by frontline officers when dealing with someone who may attempt suicide.
“Imagine you’re a firefighter, a police officer, or an emergency responder, and you receive a call about someone who might be considering harming themselves. It’s a very challenging situation where you need to manage communication and your own emotions.”
He explained that the training aimed to teach frontline officers how to effectively communicate with individuals in crisis, de-escalate the situation, provide support, and prevent self-harm.
The training included understanding both what the person is saying and how they are expressing themselves through body language and subtle cues indicating distress.
Given recent amendments to the Mental Health Act, such training is seen as crucial to equip crisis intervention officers in rescuing individuals with suicidal tendencies.
The Ministry of Health, for instance, has developed a suicide prevention training model specifically for frontline officers. Last year, they trained over 50 police officers and firefighters nationwide.
The training also involved lived experience by volunteers from AWAS, who have personally gone through suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide.
“Sharing their stories made the training more real and relatable for all of us,” added Dr. Ravivarma.
“The training helps our frontline officers remain calm in crisis, using their words and kindness to prevent tragedy. By learning these skills, they bring hope and light into the lives of those going through their toughest moments.”
Supporting Dr. Ravivarma’s views, Dr. Wong spoke on the need for collective action in suicide prevention.
“Everyone, especially mental health professionals, plays a vital role in preventing suicides,” he said, adding, “we need collaboration from all key stakeholders for effective intervention.”
“Therefore, we must establish a strong system to select and train crisis negotiators,” he said.
“We also need to take care of ourselves and our colleagues and seek help when necessary. Active listening, a key skill in a crisis negotiator’s toolbox, requires continuous practice. Crisis negotiation is not just a technique, it’s a lifeline.”
“The negotiator is sometimes the last hope between a person living and dying,” he added.
