Being Human

In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning speaks with Dr. Lindsay Sheehan and Santee Blakey from the Illinois Institute of Technology about Honest, Open, & Proud - a peer-led programme supporting people to make thoughtful decisions about mental health disclosure.Drawing on Lindsay’s work in counselling, rehabilitation science, and health disparities research, alongside Santee’s experience in community engagement, advocacy, and HOP facilitation, the conversation explores how stigma works both publicly and internally.Together, they discuss what makes HOP’s approach to disclosure distinctive, why empowered choice sits at the centre of the programme, and how conversations about openness, safety, and mental health stigma may translate across different cultural contexts, including Southeast Asia.--To learn more about Relate Malaysia and its services, visit www.relate.com.my

In this enlightening episode, Dr Chuan Sook Ning and Dr Frederick Philippe explore the intricate ways our memories shape our current reality and mental health. They also discuss how the accumulation of past events influences our perceptions, functioning, and overall well-being. Dr Philippe shares his insights the process of encoding and reconstructing memories, highlighting the importance of satisfying our fundamental needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. He explains how aggregating events can lead to networks of failure, or conversely, networks of resilience, depending on our approach to past experiences. Dr. Philippe also introduces the concept of free energy, a fascinating principle that helps the brain navigate new experiences and make predictions about future events. While beneficial in the short term, this predictive mechanism can sometimes hinder our long-term mental health. -- To learn more about Relate Malaysia visit www.relate.com.my

In this episode of Being Human, mindfulness author and Star columnist Sandy Clarke discusses the concept of acceptance with Ajahn Brahmali - a Buddhist monk from Bodhinyana monastery, Perth. They discuss why acceptance can be difficult to work toward and how to overcome the obstacles that get in our way. Ajahn Brahmali also shares his thoughts on the value of self-compassion as part of acceptance, and how it can help us foster compassion for and understanding toward others. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my

From an award-winning music star, to radio announcer and TV host, Sarimah Ibrahim's journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode of Being Human, she joins Dr. Chua Sook Ning and opens up about her life and struggles with peripartum depression - a crucial issue in women's mental health in Malaysia. A passionate mental health advocate, Sarimah shares her personal experiences, shedding light on the pressing need for greater awareness and intervention for the 1 in 8 mothers facing peripartum depression in the country today. She also shares her thoughts in advocating for change in Malaysia's healthcare system, where less than 30% of maternity providers screen for peripartum depression. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my

Would you say you lived life in pursuit of existential perfection? Are you the kind of person who might dwell and ruminate on mistakes made in the past as proof that you're a bad or unworthy person? If these questions stir something deep inside, then this enlightening podcast episode is for you! Dr. Chua Sook Ning hosts Dr. Robert Leahy - psychologist and author whose book, If Only...Finding Freedom From Regret, helps us to develop what he calls "adaptive humility" that helps us accept our imperfections and humans who always have the capacity to learn and grow. Robert is the author of numberous books that guides people to gain valuable insights into who they are and how to move away from idealism and toward living a life that's authentic and real. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my

With a goal to be "the busiest man in showbusiness", Keanu Azman is a media maverick with a tireless drive and passion for learning about people, events, and just about everything else he encounters. On the one hand, many in Malaysia will know Keanu as the suave, charming and energetic media personality he is. On the other hand, in this episode of Being Human, he joins Dr. Chua Sook Ning to share his struggles with anxiety starting in 2019 and how he learned to cope with - and learn from - his experience with anxiety. To find out more about Relate Malaysia, its services and work, visit: www.relate.com.my

What do we do when a storm comes our way? In this episode of Being Human, mental health counsellor and mindfulness author Sandy Clarke sat down with Dr. Ray Owen, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and author of 'Facing the Storm', a powerful guide to coping with life's toughest challenges. Together, they explore the difficult but important questions we all face: how can we navigate pain and despair, loss and uncertainty? Drawing on over 30 years of experience working in the UK's NHS, Ray shares practical strategies and insights based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help us cope with life-changing events such as bereavement, health problems, and relationship breakdowns. To find out more about Relate Malaysia, visit www.relate.com.my

“We need to look at who are the people who end up killing themselves, and why they are doing that. It isn’t because they’ve become negativistic; it’s because they have ended up on a road that doesn’t lead anywhere and they feel there is no good possibility in sight…” In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning hosts renowned existential philosopher and psychotherapist, Prof. Emmy van Deurzen, to discuss the personal, social, and existential factors that can contribute to having suicidal thoughts and feelings. Emmy shares her insights into the challenges people both young and old face in today's world, and how we can begin to cultivate meaning and purpose from a place of suffering or despair. For more information on Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my or email us at: inquiries@relate.com.my