Befrienders Penang

29 Aug 2008 - World Suicide Prevention Day 2008

THE PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF PENANG HOSPITAL, MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION PENANG & BEFRIENDERS PENANG cordially invite you to the talk held in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day 2008 on Friday, 29 Aug 2008 at Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang (Penang Caring Complex). Theme: THINK GLOBALLY, PLAN NATIONALLY, ACT LOCALLY Date : Friday, 29 August 2008 Time : 9am - 1pm Venue : Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang (Penang Caring Complex) Ground Floor, Seminar Rooms 1 & 2 Jalan Utama, Pulau Pinang Admission is free Topic Speaker Opening Speech Yang Bahagia Dato' Seri Khoo Keat Siew Founder & Advisor of Befrienders Penang Bipolar Affective Disorder Dr. Yushada Budiman bt Yusuf Consultant Psychiatrist of Penang Hospital Primary and Secondary Prevention of Suicide Dr. Norhayati bt Ali Consultant Psychiatrist of Hospital Kuala Lumpur Early Psychosis – Applying Global Ideas in Local Context Dr. Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran Consultant Neuropsychiatrist of Penang Adventist Hospital Moderator Dr. Nor Hayati bt Arif Head of Psychiatric and Mental Health Department, Penang Hospital The Role of Befrienders in Suicide Prevention Saras Pillay Chairperson of Befrienders Penang Call us at 04-2815161 and 2811108 (Mondays to Fridays : 3pm - 12 midnight, Saturdays & Sundays : 5pm to 11pm) or email us at pat@befpen.org if you have any inquiries.

Befrienders provides confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. You don't have to be suicidal to call us. We are here for you if you're worried about something, feel upset or confused, or you just want to talk to someone.

You may be finding it impossible to explain how desperate you are feeling to the people around you. It can provide immense relief to be able to acknowledge such dark feelings to a stranger at the end of a telephone. Just by talking about these feelings and finding someone cares enough to listen to you can mean you are more able to see your way.

The Befrienders Penang are :

• are available during our service hours to offer confidential emotional support to people passing through personal crisis and anyone who is in imminent danger of taking his or her own life. For this purpose, volunteers are carefully selected and trained in accordance with the Charter.
  
• work to increase community awareness of the issues surrounding suicide and depression.
  
• familiarise the public with the work of the Befrienders Penang organization.
  
• raise sufficient funding to maintain and improve our services.