Johnson & Johnson Malaysia champions the importance of mental health this Ramadhan

KUALA LUMPUR,Malaysia,May 30,2019 -- Mental health is fast becoming a national concern. By 2020,one in three Malaysians are expected to suffer some form of mental health problem[1]. Seeing this,Johnson & Johnson Malaysia,in collaboration with the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association (MIASA) and Malaysia Mental Health Association (MMHA),is spreading cheer this Ramadhan by baking and distributing cookies to patients in the psychiatric ward in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). This collaboration also aims to start the conversation going among Malaysians in discussing mental health,including lifting the stigma attached to it.

On 16 May 2019,Johnson & Johnson Malaysia collaborated with MIASA and MMHA to spread cheer to psychiatric patients in PPUM. Present were (seated,from left) President of Johnson & Johnson Southeast Asia Jan Meurer; Prof Dr Ahmad Hatim Sulaiman,Head of Psychiatry Department,UMMC; Royal Patron of MIASA Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah; and Puan Anita,President of MIASA,together with Johnson & Johnson Malaysia and MIASA volunteers.

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

"We are proud of this collaboration,in touching the lives of patients and advocating mental health awareness. Campaigns like this will help educate the public to maintain their mental health in ensuring all-around wellbeing in the long run," said Chin.

Volunteers from Johnson & Johnson Malaysia,MIASA and MMHA gathered to bake and pack cookies before distributing the packages at UMMC. The visit was joined by Tengku Puteri Iman Afzan Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah,Royal Patron of MIASA; Jan Meurer,President of Johnson & Johnson Southeast Asia; Chin Keat Chyuan,Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Malaysia; Puan Anita Abu Bakar,President of MIASA; Dato Dr Andrew Mohanraj,president of MMHA and Prof Dr Ahmad Hatim Sulaiman,UMMC. Together,they handed out jars of goodies to patients,doctors,nurses and caretakers in the psychiatric wards at UMMC.

"Psychiatric patients tend to feel loneliest and isolated during festive seasons. As such,I am heartened by this collaboration which represents an important recognition to a cause I believe in," said Tengku Puteri Iman,Royal Patron at MIASA.

"At Johnson & Johnson,we champion the people on the frontlines delivering important care. This visit is important appreciation to the caregivers and nurses,in conjunction with International Nurses Day," elaborated Meurer during the event.

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

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Photo - /20190529/2480545-1