Assessing social recovery of vulnerable youth in global mental health settings: a pilot study of clinical research tools in Malaysia

Background A social recovery approach to youth mental health focuses on increasing the time spent in valuable and meaningful structured activities, with a view to preventing enduring mental health problems and social disability. In Malaysia, access to mental health care is particularly limited and little research has focused on identifying young people at risk of serious socially disabling mental health problems such as psychosis. We provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility and acceptability of core social recovery assessment tools in a Malaysian context, comparing the experiential process of engaging young Malaysian participants in social recovery assessments with prior accounts from a UK sample. Methods Nine vulnerable young people from low-income backgrounds were recruited from a non-government social enterprise and partner organisations in Peninsular Malaysia. Participants completed a battery of social recovery assessment tools (including time use, unusual experiences, self-schematic beliefs and values). Time for completion and completion rates were used as indices of feasibility. Acceptability was examined using qualitative interviews in which participants were asked to reflect on the experience of completing the assessment tools. Following a deductive approach, the themes were examined for fit with previous UK qualitative accounts of social recovery assessments. Results Feasibility was indicated by relatively efficient completion time and high completion rates. Qualitative interviews highlighted the perceived benefits of social recovery assessments, such as providing psychoeducation, aiding in self-reflection and stimulating goal setting, in line with findings from UK youth samples. Conclusions We provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility and acceptability of social recovery assessment tools in a low-resource context, comparing the experiential process of engaging young Malaysian participants in social recovery assessments with prior accounts from a UK sample. We also suggest that respondents may derive some personal and psychoeducational benefits from participating in assessments (e.g. of their time use and mental health) within a social recovery framework

Views of young people in Malaysia on mental health, help-seeking and unusual psychological experiences

Aim Mental health problems are prevalent among young people in Malaysia yet access to specialist mental health care is extremely limited. More context‐specific research is needed to understand the factors affecting help‐seeking in youth, when mental health problems typically have first onset. We aimed to explore the attitudes of vulnerable young Malaysians regarding mental health problems including unusual psychological experiences, help‐seeking and mental health treatment. Methods In the present study, nine young people (aged 16–23 years) from low‐income backgrounds participated in a semi‐structured interview about their perspectives on mental health problems, unusual psychological experiences and help‐seeking. Results Four themes were developed using thematic analysis. “Is it that they [have] family problems?” reflected participants' explanatory models of mental health problems. “Maybe in Malaysia” was concerned with perceptions of Malaysian culture as both encouraging of open sharing of problems and experiences, but also potentially stigmatizing. “You have to ask for help” emphasized the importance of mental health help‐seeking despite potential stigma. “It depends on the person” addressed the challenges of engaging with psychological therapy. Conclusions We conclude that young people in Malaysia may hold compassionate, non‐stigmatizing views towards people experiencing mental health problems and a desire to increase their knowledge and understandings. Yet societal stigma is a perceived reputational risk that may affect mental health problem disclosure and help‐seeking. We suggest that efforts to improve mental health literacy would be valued by young Malaysians and could support reduced stigma and earlier help‐seeking

Six Strategies for Optimizing Linear Growth through Improving Awareness of Breastfeeding, Dietary Diversity in Complementary Feeding, and Growth Monitoring during Early Life

Only one-fourth of the countries under the Sustainable Development Goal are ‘on track’ to reduce the burden of malnutrition as of 2020. A deficit in linear growth during the first 5 years of life is mainly due to growth faltering in the first 1000 days. This deficit has been consistently reported to be linked to suboptimal cognitive neurodevelopment, while its improvement in early childhood has been reported to offer an opportunity for rescuing neurocognitive potential. This paper describes the perspectives of multidisciplinary experts, representing a range of disciplines related to child growth and nutrition, from Nigeria, Indonesia, and Malaysia, who convened virtually to review and discuss measures aimed at preventing a further increase in growth faltering, including stunting, among children aged 0-3 years under the current prevailing circumstances. Based on the latest evidence of practices and knowledge, the expert panel proposed six strategies to support linear growth in early life which consists of 2 new initiatives: 1) increasing peer-to-peer knowledge transfer among HCP via digital engagement; 2) increasing knowledge transfer from HCPs to caregivers via social media; while maintaining the existing strategies: 1) stimulating initiatives to support breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life; 2) improving quality of complementary feeding; 3) strengthening growth monitoring to detect suboptimal growth in early childhood; 4) optimizing public-private engagement. The recommended solutions presented herein are the culmination of the collective insights of the expert panel. These recommendations offer invaluable approaches on addressing the critical public health issue of malnutrition, specifically growth faltering, and can benefit not only the three countries concerned but also other low and middle-income countries facing similar nutritional challenges

Should you get a pet for your kids?

Having a pet at home can have numerous benefits for the family, including children. Caring for, and playing with, pets can have a positive influence on kids and contributes to their well- being. The benefits of having a pet cover a wide range of factors, e.g. mutual unconditional love and acceptance (between the child and pet). Most importantly, it helps kids develop a sense of care, love, support, acknowledgement and connection

Practise healthy social media habits

Studies have shown how unpleasant emotions can spread like wildfire on social media, and mental health academics are calling for something to be done before it gets out of hand. Sunway University Department of Psychology head and professor Dr Alvin Ng (pic) said several techniques can be utilised to manage social media consumption and reduce its negative impact including cleaning up your newsfeed

Belief matters in mental health

According to the latest National Health and Morbidity Survey, teenagers and emerging adults in Malaysia are most at risk for mental health problems. This risk has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020. May global studies echo the need for addressing mental health issues of the youth

Social skills, financial literacy, fitness: Ways to build resilience in children

HONEST question to parents: Can your children bounce back from failures and disappointment? Do they have enough healthy behavioural, social and cognitive skills to progress, adapt and thrive? The next time your child misbehaves, instead of punishing, take a step back and think: What are the skills needed to be taught so that he or she is not likely to misbehave again? Then, focus on teaching that skill. This approach is called positive psychology – focusing on how to proactively progress the child, rather than rely on punitive action. And this is also how you build resilience in children

Happier and brighter: how grandparents enrich children's lives

Much is understood about parenting and its impact on children’s development and well-being, given the large amount of caregiving research in the past decades. However, not much has been done on grandparents, despite the reality that they are actively involved in looking after children. Why an article on grandparents? Partly because we live in a rapidly ageing society. Our lifespan has increased significantly, contributing to growing populations of elderly people. So children are more likely to grow up having grandparents around longer than before

Helping teenagers decide on their future

Choosing a path for the future and making big decisions can be scary for teenagers

Movement magic: how sports can help empower kids with intellectual disabilities.

Having a child with intellectual disability (ID) is, more often than not, viewed negatively. It comes with a sense of dread, hopelessness and even helplessness. The narrative that having a child with ID is pitiful and to some people, disastrous, is often the single psychological barrier that prevents the child and his or her family from living a more fulfilling life. While it is undeniable that life becomes more difficult when a child is diagnosed with ID, living under the cloud of pity doesn’t help. What is important is to understand that there are many things parents can do to facilitate their child’s development into a healthy and valuable member of the community. Such efforts should also be carried out together, in collaboration with professionals, industries and the community