KUCHING: Befrienders Kuching is always there to lend an ear – whether one is in crisis or not.
The NGO has faced a lot of challenges since its establishment on Jan 10 last year but thus far, has managed to overcome them – it has been operating since Aug 1 last year.
Befrienders Kuching executive committee member Dr Mirunaaleni Selvaraju explained that they wanted to conduct more awareness programmes on mental health issues as they felt that Sarawak had experienced several cases as of late.
She also revealed that not all callers wanted to talk about their mental health only.
“There would be times when there were callers who reached out and not talk about their mental health but instead, wanted to share wonderful news that they have because they do not have anyone to share it with,” she mentioned.
“Our suicide prevention hotline (082-242800) which operates daily from 6.30pm to 9.30pm does not just receive calls from locals but also people from other states in Malaysia. The email address sam@befrienderskch.org.my is another method for those in need of emotional support to reach out for help.
“Befrienders has an impact worldwide on suicide and suicidal behaviour through a network of 169 independent emotional support centres in 29 countries,” she said during a courtesy call on Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Children Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah at Baitulmakmur, Petra Jaya yesterday.
“Ever since we established our e-mailing services early in January, Befrienders Kuching has received more e-mails than calls and the emails come from other countries too,” Dr Mirunaaleni said.
In terms of volunteers, Befrienders Kuching has about 30 multiracial volunteers who are able to speak English, Mandarin, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Melayu Sarawak and Iban but the call operators mostly converse in English.
“There are nine Befrienders centres in Malaysia and Kuching is the latest and only centre in Sarawak.”
Befrienders Kuching will be holding a charity dinner on Aug 10 themed, “Life is Precious: You Are Not Alone”.
The dinner at Imperial Hotel, Kuching aims to create awareness as well as raise funds.
“It is not easy for someone who is nursing suicidal thoughts to open up and talk about it because they do not like it when people judge them for having such thoughts,” said Dr Mirunaaleni.
“Therefore, with this charity dinner, we want to let them know that we (Befrienders) are here to help and you don’t need to be an expert. You only need to care to prevent suicide.”
