AGENDA

Time Event
7:30 am Gathered at KFC, Jalan University to board the bus
8.00 am Departed from Jalan University
8:15 am Arrived at the Befrienders KL
8:30 am Talk by Mr. Kenny
9:45 am Break
10:15 am Classroom Activity
10:45 am Talk by Mr. Kenny
11:15 am Classroom Activity
11:30 am Talk by Mr. Kenny
11:50 am Question and Answer Session
12:00 noon Photography Session
12:15 pm Adjourned

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, we would like to take this opportunity to express our profound
gratitude to our lecturers Prof. Dr. Than Winn, Dr. Than Tun Aung, Dr. Aung Ko Ko Min, Dr
Sowmya, and Dato Prof Dr. Hj. Marzukhi Bin Mohd Isa, for their exemplary guidance,
monitoring, teaching and constant encouragement throughout the course work. Next, we
would like to give thanks to our families for their generous support in terms of financial
aspect and our teammates for their full cooperation. All of the supervision was more than
adequate in order for us to complete our report on time. We would like to thank the warm and
welcoming volunteers at the Befrienders for having us there and teaching us methods on how
to aid people in need. Last but not least, we would like to thank the entire group for their
continuous support and never-ending hard work given by each member.

Thank you.

SUMMARY OF THE LECTURE

The Befrienders
Is a non-government organization providing free, confidential, non-judgmental befriending
service for the depressed, despairing and suicidal. Their services are available to everyone,
regardless of race, religion, age or sex.
So far there are 8 Befrienders centres throughout Malaysia which are located in:

Kuala Lumpur (1970)

Ipoh (1976)
Penang (1978)
Malacca (1991)
Johor Bharu (2006)
Seremban (2007)
Kota Kinabalu (2008)
Muar (2013)

The Befrienders can be reached by the means of telephone (which is available for 24
hours, 7 days a week), appointment, e-mail and by their outreach programs which covers the
high-risk group and the public.
For 2014, Befrienders Kuala Lumpur already received about 20,000 calls which count for
55 calls per day. The main issues they dealing with are usually about relationships, psychiatry
problem and suicidal ideation.
Mental Health
Defined as As a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can
cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make
contribution to his or her community. by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2001.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NMHS) in 2011, mental health
problem is predominant in:

12% in those age of 18 60 (high among women, singles, widows, divorcees).

In the Mental Health Study done by Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2012 on 6,540

secondary student respondents, they found that:

33% had a high level of depression, anxiety and stress (DAS)

40% found it difficult to cope with DAS
4.8% experienced severe stress; 17.1% severe anxiety and 5.2% severely depressed

Suicide Data
Is defined as the action of killing oneself intentionally. It is a complex problem and major
public health issue because approximately 800,000 people die from suicide each year
(WHO). That is 1 death in every 40 seconds and 900 lives every hour (WHO).
From WHO study also, it is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death will increase to
one every 20 seconds. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged
15-44 years (both sexes).
In 2010, MOH predicted in 10 to 15 years time, suicide will emerge as the second
highest cause of death in Malaysia, after cardiovascular disease. There is a marked increase in
suicides and attempted suicides in the 16-25 age group. Prof Dr T. Maniam (UKM) in 2006
found about 13/100,000 suicides (eight in the 1980s).
The groups at high risk according to MOH:

Teenagers, age 16 - 20

Young Adults, age 21- 24

Senior citizens, age 65+

Marginalised communities
Table 1 Distribution of suicide rates (per 100,000) by gender and age, 2000

Table 2 Evolution of global suicide rates, 1995-2000 (per 100,000)

Warning Signs of Suicide Intention

Suicide is preventable when these signs are recognized and taken seriously.
1 .Feelings of hopelessness & helplessness
2 .Expressions of wanting to end it all
3. Depression over a long period
4. Change in behaviour, e.g. tension, sadness, anxiety
5. Great change in eating and sleeping habits
6 .Makes statements like Its my fault or I wont be around to face...
7. Giving away of precious possessions or making final arrangements
8. Feelings of withdrawal / aggressiveness
9. Deep or prolonged grief over any loss a death, a parting, break-up of a relationship
10. Overwhelming guilt or self-hate
11. Physical complaints
12. Being accident-prone; or tries to cut or hurt himself/herself
13. Alcohol or drug abuse

Helping a Suicidal Person

Reach out to them.
Be aware
Know the warning signs
Take threats / warning signs seriously Be calm
Find a suitable place quiet, privacy Give enough time
Listen with empathy
Show concern, care & warmth
Accept, respect the persons opinions & values
Focus on the persons feelings
Allow the person to talk about his/her suicide intention
Thoughts, Plan, Means, When?
Get help
Do Not

Interrupt too often

Become shock or emotional
Convey that you are busy
Be patronising
Dare him / her
Give false assurance
Judge

State of Mind
The suicidal usually came with this kind of feelings.

Loneliness
Anxiety
Hopelessness
Helplessness
Anger
Frustration
Devastation
Suicidal

Qualities of a Helper

Warm and caring

Non-judgemental
Acceptance
Empathetic
Confidentiality
Trustworthy
Allows expression of emotion
Allows enough time
Active listening
Being with
Empowerment
No false hope
Body language, facial expression, voice (tone, pace)

Befriending Skills

Shneidman's Ten Commonalities of Suicide

1. Purpose of suicide is to seek a solution.
2. Goal of suicide is cessation of consciousness.
3. Stimulus in suicide is intolerable psychological pain.
4. Stressor in suicide is frustrated psychological needs.
5. Emotion in suicide is hopelessness-helplessness.
6. Cognitive state in suicide is ambivalence.
7. Perceptual state in suicide is constriction.
8. Action in suicide is egression.
9. Interpersonal act in suicide is communication of intention.
10. Consistency in suicide is with lifelong coping patterns.