Johnson & Johnson Malaysia brings attention to the importance of mental health this Ramadhan

Mental health is fast becoming a concern to the nation. By 2020, one in three Malaysians are expected to suffer some form of mental health problem 1 . In light of this, Johnson & Johnson Malaysia, in collaboration with NGOs the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association (MIASA) and Malaysia Mental Health Association (MMHA), spread cheer this Holy Ramadhan month by baking and distributing cookies to patients in the psychiatric ward in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

Present were Jan Meurer, President of Johnson & Johnson Southeast Asia, Chin Keat Chyuan, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Malaysia, joined by Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah, Royal Patron of MIASA, also current princess of Malaysia.

As a leading healthcare company, Johnson & Johnson is focused on supporting mental health issues and opportunities for each life stage. Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Malaysia Chin Keat Chyuan said, “The statistics are troubling as mental health is expected to be the second biggest health problem for Malaysians by 2020 after heart disease 1.

On May 14 and 15, 86 volunteers from Johnson & Johnson Malaysia, together with volunteers from MIASA and MMHA, gathered to bake and pack cookies to be distributed on May 16 at UMMC. “Johnson & Johnson Malaysia is proud of this collaboration with MIASA and MMHA in touching the lives of patients and advocating mental health awareness. Awareness campaigns with NGOs like MIASA and MMHA will help educate the public that maintaining their mental health is as crucial as physical health in ensuring all-around wellbeing in the long run,” said Chin.

“Psychiatric patients tend to feel most lonely and isolated during festive seasons. As such, I am heartened by this collaboration between MIASA and Johnson & Johnson Malaysia which represents an important recognition to a cause I believe in,” said Tengku Puteri Iman, Royal Patron at MIASA.

“At Johnson & Johnson, we support and champion the people on the frontlines who are at the heart of delivering care. As such, this event not only reaches out to patients, but it is a form of appreciation to the caretakers and nurses, in conjunction with International Nurses Day,” elaborated Meurer, at the event. International Nurses Day is celebrated every year on 12 May.

1 MOH National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015:
www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/nhmsreport2015vol2.pdf

The collaboration between Johnson & Johnson, MIASA and MMHA also aims to start the conversation going among Malaysians in discussing mental health, including lifting the stigma attached to mental health.

Stay tuned for more activities to come in efforts to raise awareness of mental health in Malaysia.