BINTULU: A group of young people here are walking away from a mental health workshop not just more informed, but more prepared to help.
Organised by Faradale Media-M, the ‘Rakan Sarawak Destiny Movers (RSDM) Bintulu 2026 – Unmask The Mind to Thrive and Flourish’ Workshop brought together secondary school students, trainees from technical training centres and public university students in a skills-first approach to mental health education.
Rather than focusing on awareness alone, the workshop was designed around practical, hands-on learning – equipping participants with the tools to identify early signs of distress and provide meaningful support before professional help is sought.
Pre-workshop surveys revealed that most participants already recognised the importance of mental health, with 93 per cent acknowledging it as equally important as physical health, though nearly one in five felt uncomfortable discussing it in group settings, while more than a third were uncertain about how to recognise signs of stress or emotional exhaustion in others.
By the end of the programme, those gaps had narrowed considerably, with 93 per cent now understanding that grief and loss extend far beyond bereavement, and 78 per cent able to distinguish between normal and prolonged grief.
Around 70 per cent of participants now feel more prepared to support someone experiencing emotional distress, 67 per cent are ready to apply the ALEC model – Ask, Listen, Encourage, Check-in – in real-life scenarios, and 77 per cent demonstrated an understanding of emotional regulation techniques such as controlled breathing and grounding exercises.
An overwhelming 94 per cent of participants described the workshop environment as safe, inclusive and respectful, while 92 per cent found the activities engaging and meaningful.
Interactive elements such as HEART Space, Flip the Script and Safety Net Web were singled out as the most impactful components of the programme.
A trainee from ADTEC MARA Bintulu said the experience had given her practical knowledge to support peers under pressure.
“The knowledge gained will help me support my friends who are under pressure, especially as students facing heavy workloads and various challenges,” she said.
Another participant from TVETMara (IKM) Bintulu expressed gratitude for what he described as valuable, applicable knowledge.
“I learned how to identify early signs of individuals experiencing issues such as depression or emotional distress, and I will use this knowledge to respond appropriately,” he said.
Eight in ten participants said they intended to apply what they learned in their daily lives, while 76 per cent expressed motivation to help build psychologically safe environments within their communities.
The workshop represents a step towards cultivating a generation of community-level first responders – individuals who can recognise distress early and offer initial support before professional intervention is needed.
The RSDM Bintulu 2026 workshop is part of Faradale Media-M’s broader commitment to strengthening community mental wellbeing through education, early intervention, and cross-institutional collaboration.
