Promoting Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Hybrid, Innovative Approach in Malaysia

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had monumental effects on the mental health of populations worldwide. Previous research indicated that programs and interventions using social networks can play a positive role in promoting mental health. Nevertheless, current evidence is largely derived from high-income regions, reflecting an urgent need for more studies in low- and middle-income settings.Objectives: This paper aims to (a) describe the potential value of a hybrid health carnival in promoting mental health and increasing access to screening services; (b) assess the level of community engagement with the digital platform.Methods: A mental health carnival was conducted with the theme of “Mind Your Mental Health” (Cakna Kesihatan Mental) in conjunction with the World Mental Health Day in Malaysia. This was a hybrid carnival that combined elements of face-to-face interactions and virtual learning. Free online therapy sessions were offered to high-risk groups identified during the screening process. Social media metrics were utilized to report the levels of community engagement and participants completed pre-and post-assessments to measure the program's impact on their knowledge.Results: The carnival was attended by 515 participants (78.8% virtual participants). Social media metrics reported more than 5,585 reaches on Facebook for all the activities held throughout the event. Results from pre-and post-assessments showed significant improvement in the mean knowledge scores (p < 0.05).Conclusion: This digital approach will continue to evolve by releasing new features and tools as a new frontier for high-risk populations and all individuals seeking mental health support and treatment.

Awareness of Mental Health Issues in Malaysian Construction Industry

“…Given the following formula, the [46]. (1) With 𝑛0 being the sample size, z being the critical value of the desired level of confidence, p being the estimated proportion of an attribute in the population, q being equal to 1-p, and e being the precision level. In this instance, the population count is unknown.…”

“…The prevalence of mental health disorders is a growing concern due to their significant impact on the development and exacerbation of various other health issues. The aforementioned issues encountered social stigmas within the community, resulting in a global burden due to the absence of widespread awareness and understanding of the root cause [1]. The rate of increase in the proportion of individuals seeking mental health treatment in our nation surpasses the available resources [2].…”

“…Previous research has mostly focused on the prevalence and risk factors of mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, among the Malaysian population. However, these studies have neglected to address the impact of these disorders on individuals 'productivity levels [1]. In this review, we examine the association between mental disorders and workers' productivity in Malaysia.…”

Monkeypox outbreak: Preventing another episode of stigmatisation

“…Hence, in our model, we emphasise knowledge transfer and community leadership. A community‐based awareness campaign could improve knowledge through mass communication of educational materials [10]. However, community‐level interventions should not only address the broad public but also specific faith‐based and spiritual groups that are influential in reinforcing or shifting norms and practices.…”

Risk Perceptions, Level of Government Trust, and Psychological Distress During COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan

“…1,20,21 Previous studies have examined the perception of COVID-19 and the mental health impact of the COVID-19. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Qi et al estimated the relationship between threatened perception types and mental status among pregnant women. 29 An online survey in China suggests that risk perception is a key factor related to mental health during the public health crisis.…”