The COVID-19 pandemic has spared no one in terms of the mental health impact – whether it’s anxiety over the disease, or stress and anguish related to financial uncertainties. People are crying out for help: Befrienders KL received more than 20,000 calls from January to June this year, compared with 32,000 for the whole of 2020. For many, the cries for help have turned to extreme measures, documented in the 468 suicides that occurred in the first five months of this year, compared with 631 throughout 2020. Amid the deluge of bad news, we speak to licensed counsellor Heeran Kaur to find out how we can listen out for these cries, and help to provide psychological first aid.

If you need emotional support or just want to talk to someone anonymously, you can call Befrienders KL at 03 7627 2929.

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