There is an intense sense of anxiety and stress due to the difficulty of adjusting to the new normal.
Feeling anxious or constantly worried? Having trouble sleeping through the night? Experiencing loss of appetite?
The Department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development began offering free online psychosocial support and counselling services during the MCO period. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star Based on data, he said it was mostly women at quarantine centres who reached out for counselling services with DSW throughout the MCO period.
“Some existing clients were not keen on online sessions initially, but they gave in eventually when they began experiencing deterioration in their mental health,” he said. Dr Christina said online counselling takes away the stigma or apprehension that some people may feel about walking into a therapist's office to seek help for their mental wellbeing. — DR CHRISTINA PILLAI
“Sessions are conducted in a private, closed room where no one else can hear or see the conversations. We have a strict policy that sessions cannot be recorded unless both parties have signed an agreement to do so and with good reasons,” he said. For sessions where more than one client is involved at a time such as couples, Dr Loy said more care will be taken not to “trigger” any points that could lead to arguments.
“It also takes away the stigma or apprehension that some people may feel about walking into a physical office,” Dr Christina said. “Due to the lack of social cues, any form of diagnosing through any online method is deemed inappropriate,” she added. “Our regular callers, including those who are visually impaired, find it hard to reach us via Skype,” Befrienders Penang chairman Damien Lee said.
Malaysians are still reminded to practise social distancing, while business premises like shopping malls and restaurants are allowed to operate under strict standard operating procedures such as introducing contact tracing measures and limiting the number of visitors inside stores. “People are curious about what goes on during a therapy session and they want to seek help but are worried about what others might think. Such concerns are natural given our societal beliefs and stigmas attached to counselling.
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