DAWN organised the Mental Health Support & Awareness for the Deaf Community workshop on 25 May 2025 in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. This workshop is part of the Projek Pembangunan Sumber Pertolongan Cemas Kesihatan Mental Bagi Komuniti Pekak di Malaysia, supported by the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH), Yayasan Hasanah, and the Ministry of Health Malaysia under the Mental Health Grant. We sincerely thank Yayasan Hasanah and the Ministry of Health for their continued support.
Special thanks to Dr. Shawn Lee, Clinical Psychologist, and his wonderful team for facilitating the workshop with care and professionalism. Dr. Shawn shared valuable insights on recognising and expressing emotions in a healthy way, helping participants better understand their feelings.
The workshop explored four basic emotions—happy, sad, fear, and anger—and helped participants reflect on what triggers these feelings in their daily lives. Dr. Shawn explained how these emotions are linked to common mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression. The participants also learned about the importance of sleep, different types of sleep problems, and simple techniques such as eye fixation to help with falling asleep.
There was also an open discussion on when to seek help, especially when emotional or sleep problems continue for more than two weeks. The session addressed common barriers such as stigma, financial difficulties, and communication issues.
The workshop was attended by 60 Deaf participants who gave very positive feedback. Many shared that they now feel more confident and comfortable expressing their emotions openly. The session provided a safe and supportive space for reflection and emotional growth.
This programme was part of the Stop the Stigma: Mental Health Belongs to Everyone initiative—an important step in supporting the mental well-being of the Deaf community.
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