Lepak & Luah: A safe space for expression and healing

The Star

To tackle the rising mental health challenges among Malaysia’s youth, non-governmental organisation Empati  introduced its groundbreaking "Lepak & Luah" initiative at an intimate media launch at Universiti Malaya on Tuesday (March 19).  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00In an effort to address the growing mental health challenges among Malaysia's youth,

00:07non-governmental organization Empathy unveiled its groundbreaking Lepak & Lua initiative

00:13during an intimate media launch at University Malaya on Tuesday.

00:17The sharing session brought together mental health experts, advocates and young participants

00:22in a setting limited to 50 attendees, fostering open and meaningful discussions.

00:28Empathy founder and president Syahidah Zulkarnain highlighted the program's impact,

00:33emphasizing that it provides a judgment-free space where individuals from all backgrounds

00:39can express themselves freely.

00:58Also present at the event were icon Empathy actress Ceipuan Sarima Ibrahim and music

01:26artist Zina Khal, along with registered counsellor Ayman Azlan.

01:30People have been through lots of things in life, it doesn't matter who you are, what

01:35you do for a living and so I thought whatever way I can help, let me do it.

01:39So this is called Lepak & Lua, so we're officially launching it and basically Lepak & Lua means

01:43to hang out and express yourself because it's the most powerful thing you can do.

01:49So what we're trying to create is an environment where people feel connected to each other

01:52and it's not just connected through misery, you know, it's not like we all sit around

01:55and like, you know, a woe be me, but it's more like let's talk about life and you know,

02:01what we're going through because one healthy person can create an entire healthy generation

02:07and one unhealthy person can create an entire generation of unhealthy people with so many

02:12issues.

02:13So what we do might seem like a small thing today, but if you can help one person like

02:19just not feel lonely and it helps them to not become addicted, it could save like an

02:25entire generation of people.

02:27The event also welcomed 10 juvenile students from Sekolah Tunas Bakti Sungai Besi, who

02:32found the session insightful and meaningful.

03:19Empathy has committed to conducting 12 Lepak & Lua sessions annually, with plans to expand

03:31its reach to more youths, particularly those from vulnerable communities.

Category

Transcript

Recommended