Countdown to HELP WMHD 2012

Hi all,

It has been two months since we started our campaign in June. As the first week of August is about to end, we are now only 10 weeks away from HELP World Mental Health Day (HELP WMHD)! How time flies..

Calendar taken from here

Here is a breakdown the event: 

Exhibition dates:

12 and 13 October 2012

Venue:

The Curve (outside Laundry Bar), 

Mutiara Damansara

Theme:

Depression - Suicide

Mission:

Advocating Mental Health with Education 

The exhibition that we are organizing will certainly challenge the typical type of exhibitions that you are used to. So mark your calendars and be sure to come by! 

Expect a realistic and larger than life experience of battling depression and suicide, and you won't be let down B)

Find us on Facebook 

http://www.facebook.com/HELPWorldMentalHealthDay

and follow us on Twitter

https://twitter.com/HELPWMHD

The Metro Station: A fiction by Zachary

The Metro Station

For five years I have been living in this area. Seems like it was only yesterday when I first stepped into this metro station. At 8 am every morning I would always take the train to work and I also used to travel the same way when going to college. Memories of this metro station have been very colourful, and a memory which involved a guy in a red jacket, in particular, stood out like a sore thumb. I used to see him every morning since 4 years ago in that jacket every winter. Now I don’t see him anymore. There was a vending machine that provided drinks to the commuters in summer to quench their thirst in the summer heat. That was 3 years ago. Now that’s gone too.

Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow, this was how life went. Life has been so colourful till last year. I still remember the good times - I went to college, met up my friends after class for some food, went clubbing at the local night club on weekends. Getting drunk on a summer night and going back home was fun. We have been having awesome weekends since 2 years ago. Again and again, I just keep coming back to this station. I met my other half on this particular day on this particular spot, on this particular bench, not knowing that I would be sitting here alone today. I met him here. That was 5 years ago shortly after moving to this area. We went to the same college but studied different courses, but even then we met up every day on weekdays in between and after classes and went home on the same train. We even worked at the same place after graduating. He told me I was beautiful. He gave me a ring, one which I still wear today, keeping it close to my heart. It wasn’t very expensive and only costs 50 bucks. He said that he would marry me one day. Yes, that boy with slightly longish hair with the typical black t shirt he used to wear. Soon after, he was conscripted to the army to serve in the Afghan war as peacekeeping personnel. He told me he would be back. He Skyped with me during his free time and Facebook was also a means of communication. He told me that he would be back in 6 months. Alas, he stopped coming online. After two weeks, my greatest fear was confirmed. The last I met him, he was wearing a military uniform leaving this metro station. That sight of him in my mind, the memory, is one of the only things I have left of him.

Photo taken from Ricky Thakrar's Flickr

Today I sit here in this particular spot. Time seems to stay still for a little longer. Tears coming from my eyes seem to make everything look grey. It has been this way since about 2 years ago. The feeling of nostalgia has never been stronger. The crowd has always been how they are, but they seem invisible to me now. I still do get invited to go hang out with my friends but it has never been the same. They never understood how I felt anyway. All I remember was the colourful times of the past. I check my vital signs to know I’m still alive but it feels like I am the only one in this world I live in. That mask I put on has somehow helped me survive in working life and my parents do not have a clue. However, they don’t seem to exist in my world.

What does the word direction mean? I just want to go back to the past. It only takes 2 minutes for each train to pass yet it feels 10 times longer. My pay checks get depleted faster every month. Expensive stuff was once a novelty to me but now, it’s just like any other thing.

What is life anyway? Nothing is permanent, everything comes and goes. Just like the trains that pass as I sit here dreaming in my own world. My vital signs, I look at my hands and arms, those would go too. Is my life worth living? Or is it easier to just cross over to the next world and avoid all this pain?

Beep beep beep. What was that? Beep beep beep… Beeping sound from where? I’m the only one hearing this. I wake up. What the hell is that? I check my pulse on my neck again. Am I in the real world? Everything seems so real. I pick up my phone and call him to hear his voice. Yes, he is there on the other end. I haven’t even graduated from college yet. The war in Afghanistan? That was more than a decade ago. I look at the alarm clock, oh my God, its 11am already, it's time to go. And here I am in the metro station back again. I think about my dream last night and begin to doubt my existence at the moment. Of course I know I’m alive but that dream has got me thinking. Maybe in the future I can actually laugh about it, but not right now.

Zachary

This short story is about a girl who had a dream about getting into depression. In her dream, her boyfriend died in the war in Afghanistan which led to grieving. Unfortunately she wasn’t strong enough and therefore grief became depression and she felt that she just wanted to go back in time which is impossible and it got worse as she questioned her own existence in the world. She finally woke up finding that everything was a dream but it was so real that for awhile it got her thinking what would happen if she was really depressed.

Celebrating a Milestone: 1000 Likes

Yesterday was a very exciting day for us. We held our first event at HELP University to promote HELP World Mental Health Day to students and boy, we sure did promoted it! ;)

The Facebook page was only launched in May 10, but in under 2 months, our Facebook page has passed the first 1000 likes milestone! Hooray!

We hit 1013 likes at 5pm!

All smiles for the marketing team :)


The best part of it is that the numbers are still increasing! As of this moment, we are looking at 1092 likes on our Facebook page. That means, 1092 people (and hopefully their friends and family too) are aware of the upcoming Help WMHD event this October and are supporting our cause! Another hooray!

We would like to thank everyone that have helped us made this happened. We could not have done it without any of you guys :)

If you have yet to like our Facebook page, do not miss out on the fun, do so right away! ;)

That's it for this entry. Have a good day everyone, and remember to Choose life, Hold on, And Never Give up on Everything - CHANGE! ...because  it's worth it ! :)

The Hours (2002): The Film Review

A film review by Kunaal Doshi.


Depression is portrayed to its most terrifying core in the 2002 movie, The Hours. The film, which won Nicole Kidman the Academy Award for Best Actress, also stars Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. Based on the novel by Michael Cunningham, the film concerns Virgina Woolf's (Kidman) efforts to write a novel titled 'Mrs. Dalloway' which links up three different women from three different points in time. Kidman portrays Virginia Woolf who is writing the novel in 1941 while another woman; Laura Brown (Moore) is reading it in the 1950s, while Clarissa Vaughan (Streep) is living the story in the modern day. All three women live parallel lives of depression and suicide.  

Woolf’s novel, 'Mrs Dalloway' is an important feature in the book. The story affects all the three women either directly or indirectly. Woolf, because it is a representation of her thoughts and feelings, Brown who reads it and realizes the book is a reflection of her own thoughts and feelings and Vaughan who in a way is living the same life as the character of Mrs. Dalloway.  
This movie is a frighteningly accurate depiction of the loneliness and hopelessness of depression. How it can destroy a brilliant and loving individual as well as entire families. The Hours goes beyond simply showing depression, it invites viewers to understand and empathize with the characters as well as educating them about the true nature of depression. Showing them, that it may develop out of nothing, to people who seemingly have everything, leaving them naked and vulnerable.  

Reading about in a textbook, knowing every single symptom, effect, cause I thought I knew what Depression was. Before hitting the “Play” button I braced myself to watch two hours of three ladies, crying, wailing and moaning, thinking that there would be nothing for me to enjoy and I was only watching it for the sake of writing this review.  

How wrong I was.  

I sat in my chair for two hours straight, spellbound. I controlled the urge to go the bathroom simply because I didn’t want to disrupt the flow. The movie is not fast paced and exciting nor does it try to be. It portrays depression at its darkest and how that darkness envelops everything around it. The acting all round was brilliant. The three central characters gave deeply moving performances and it is impossible not to empathize with them.  

The Hours is also deeply thought provoking through the use of countless symbolism, imagery and double meanings. The movie challenges the audience to think about the movie and more importantly about depression.  

To anyone who wants to learn about depression, the true face of depression; do watch this movie.  It shows us what makes us human. Books and lectures do not prepare you for real life. Nothing can, not even this movie. But it comes realistically close to.

About HelpWMHD

Hi everyone!

HELP World Mental Health Day has officially gone live on Saturday. As you would have already known, we debuted our new blog with a book review on Room. We highly recommend our readers to grab a copy of the book and be amazed by Emma Donoghue's style of writing.

Although we will certainly post more book reviews in the future, surely it will not be the only thing that we post on the blog. We hope to keep our readers updated with anything related to HELP World Mental Health Day (HelpWMHD) and share some inspiring stories on the topic of depression and suicide. As there will be lots of events and activities over the next few months prior to the event, do visit this space often for new information and updates as we countdown to the biggest event of the year in October. We will also post updates on our Facebook page. Be sure that you have already 'liked' our page ;)

If you are wondering what exactly HelpWMHD is, allow us to tell you a bit more about the event for the rest of this post.

HELP World Mental Health Day (HelpWMHD) is an event organized by a group of HELP University Psychology students to raise public awareness on mental health issues and it's importance. We dedicate ourselves to accomplish the one and only ultimate mission: To Advocate Mental Health Awareness with Education.

On October 10, more than 100 other countries will be observing World Mental Health Day (WMHD) though local, regional and national commemorative events and programs. While we do not want Malaysia to be left out, we are proud to say that we will be organizing Malaysia's first nationwide WMHD event that will run from October 10 to 13 that will go by the name HelpWMHD. It will be a four day event filled with talks, exhibitions, and other inspirational activities for all walks of life. (Remember to mark your calendars!)

In conjunction with the theme for this years WMHD, we chose Depression: Suicide for the theme of our project. We are determined to create a better understanding about depression and suicide through four different goals this year:


1/ Describe the symptoms of depression and suicidal behaviors.


2/ Explain why depression may link to suicide.


3/ Predict possibilities of one to commit suicide (Sign spotting).


4/ Control and change depressive behavior with suicidal elements through healthy channels.

We also believe in C.H.A.N.G.E which stands for "Choose life, Hold on, And Never Give up on Everything". Now you know more about it, help us spread the word! A small effort goes a long way, let's C.H.A.N.G.E.!

Room by Emma Donoghue: A Book Review

A book review by Neville.

Have you ever thought when you were younger “I can’t wait till I’m all grown up!” then when you finally got there you thought “what was I thinking…”? While scientists have yet to create a workable and practical time machine, the book Room by Emma Donoghue is the next best thing as it takes you through the world of a five year old boy, Jack. The twist here is that Jack’s world measures only at 11 feet by 11 feet. Guessed it yet? The story is about Jack who has pretty much grown up in a small room for his entire life!

Taking you through the everyday life of Jack in his small compact room, to his brave escape and finally his life in the outside world, Jack is a character that a lot of us can relate to as he has to face the terrors of stepping out of his comfort zone and opening up to a new and unknown world. But wait! You’re probably wondering by now how in the world could he have survived on his own for five years?

Well, he didn't.

The second most important character in the book, the most important person to Jack and the character I personally felt the most attached to was his mother who goes unnamed throughout the whole book other than Ma. Having been kidnapped seven years ago when she was just 19 years old, Jack’s mother was raped and imprisoned by her kidnapper for all those years. During the seven years she was pregnant twice with the first time ending in a miscarriage. Having to go through all this you would have to think she has every reason to contemplate suicide which she almost managed to pull off after a mental breakdown. However, it was the thought that Jack needed her to be around that kept her going despite her world and freedom being robbed from her.

From a metaphorical standpoint, we’re all at some point trapped in our own sad, dark and morbid room. But even so, there can be a reason for us to keep going. So no matter how bad things get, how much is taken from you and how much you feel like giving up, just hold on to what little you have left and hope that things will change because some good will come out of the things that went wrong. As for what Jack’s mother got, it was Jack.