Relate Malaysia

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Relate Malaysia

Our mission is to make sure every Malaysian enjoys good mental health as a fundamental human right. Unfortunately, their fears were often proven to be true.
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Relate Malaysia was founded by Dr. Chua Sook Ning, a clinical psychologist born and bred in DJ in 2016. She started the organization when she realized how little mental health resources there were in Malaysia. There was little information on the mental health status in Malaysia, and the few reports that are available were unpublicized and untalked about. She also noticed that people were embarrassed and scared to talk about their mental health struggles. They were afraid of being stigmatized and discriminated against. People lost jobs and the support of friends and family members when they shared their mental health struggles. The final push to start an organization came when she was told that she should not run a public awareness campaign because people will become too aware of mental health and somehow that would worsen the mental health state in Malaysia. Dr. Chua realized that people are afraid of mental illness because of the lack of knowledge, and that the only way to change the status quo was to speak up. She said: "If we knew that 30% of people contracted the Zika virus in Malaysia, it would make the news. Even if there were not enough medication to treat the symptoms. But when 30% of people suffer a mental health condition, we are silent. How can that be?". With that, she established Relate Therapy, which is now known as Relate Malaysia. As a Clinical Psychologist, her initial focus was on raising public awareness that psychotherapy is an effective evidence-based treatment for mental illness. But from that initial focus, Relate Malaysia expanded its mission to:
1. Raising public awareness on mental health.
2. Developing effective and accessible mental health intervention and prevention programs.
3. Advocating for patients' rights in national and institutional policies. This organization is now supported by medical doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists. But most of all, it hopes to be a voice for patients and their caregivers, dispelling myths about mental illness, decreasing the stigma of mental illness and sharing their stories with the rest of Malaysia. Find out more about Dr. Chua here:
https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Chua-Sook-Ning-1670443749915905/

06/01/2026

Many of us will be thinking about the year ahead, and so we’re revisiting a throwback episode on how to discover what truly matters to you.

In this episode of Being Human, Dr Chua Sook Ning speaks with Prof Steven C Hayes – creator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – about why goals alone rarely guide our lives in a meaningful direction, and how values give us something steadier to stand on.

In this fascinating discussion, he offers four ways to uncover what we really value and how to act on it with purpose 🎧✨

Listen in full here: https://ow.ly/zuWT50XMRis

31/12/2025

As we welcome 2026, our hope is that this year brings you all the strength to survive and thrive, and the resilience to adapt to whatever challenges come your way.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our work, and to our clients for trusting us with your stories.

From all of us at Relate Malaysia, we wish you a year filled with grounding, growth, and a lot of happiness, purpose, and joy 💛✨

30/12/2025

It's that time again when we start making plans to exercise more, learn new things, eat better, or be more productive. All of that can be healthy – a way of giving shape to the kind of life we want to live. But sometimes, beneath that drive is a belief that who we are right now isn’t good enough.

That thought can sound productive at first, but when growth begins from a place of pressure, it starts to feel like a race with no finish line. There’s always more we could do, one more thing to fix or prove. The biggest room is the room for improvement precisely because it can never be filled.

To feel “good enough” is to acknowledge that, at this point in time, we’ve done our best with what we’ve known and had. It’s recognising that our worth isn’t built on outcomes or comparisons, but on the fact that we are human – capable, flawed, learning, and trying.

When we start to grow from that place, we make choices because they matter to us, not because they’ll make us more acceptable. We learn out of curiosity, not self-criticism or expectation.

And that’s where genuine growth begins, not from a need to prove our value, but from the understanding that our value has always been there and that we're worth our own effort for its own sake.

25/12/2025

🎄 To everyone celebrating Christmas, the team at Relate Malaysia wishes you happiness, joy, love and connection. ✨ May this season bring moments of laughter and cherished memories that carry you into the new year. 🌟

23/12/2025

🎁 The best gift you can give yourself is care that lasts beyond the festive season. ✨

As you head into a new year, we offer a space, online or in person, to reflect and prepare for what’s ahead. 💫

Our team of experienced therapists can help you understand where you’ve been and what might be next for you – let’s explore this new chapter together 🌙

Get in touch with us today: https://relate.com.my/relate-therapy-centre/

18/12/2025

Throwback post: In November, Relate Malaysia was glad to be part of Live.Love.Labour 2025, a festival organised by the Malaysian Philosophy Society that brought people together to rethink how we live, work, and care for ourselves.

It was a great chance to meet kindred spirits, share conversations, and support a space that treats mental health as an important part of everyday life.

A big thanks to the organisers for creating a thoughtful gathering, and to everyone who stopped by to connect and share their experiences!💚

16/12/2025

We're excited to be offering our new series, ClinPsychJourney! It follows the path to becoming a clinical psychologist in Malaysia and, in this first clip, clinical psychologist Owen Choo shares his thoughts on what to pay attention to before you take the leap.

Here, he talks through the practical considerations that help you choose the right university program for you.

If you’re exploring this career or already planning your next steps, feel free to leave your questions or thoughts below, and we might feature them in a future video. 🎓💬

11/12/2025

Therapists aren’t immune to the same kinds of struggles we help others face. Having our own therapy is part of what keeps the work authentic and effective.

Experiencing therapy as a client teaches patience, awareness, and the kind of empathy that can’t be learned from role plays. It helps us understand what trust feels like, how uncertainty holds us back, and what it means to be seen by the therapist.

Check out our latest article to learn more about how therapists can benefit from having their own therapy: https://ow.ly/6ojV50XvIq8

02/12/2025

As we head toward a New Year, conversations around goals and resolutions will be heard as often as a Mariah Carey Christmas classic.

But what actually makes motivation stick?

In this throwback episode of Being Human, motivation expert Prof. Richard Koestner joins Dr. Chua Sook Ning to discuss the important distinction between doing something because we feel we have to, and setting goals we personally want to achieve.

Listen to the full conversation: https://ow.ly/ceFQ50XvI6q

28/11/2025

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh shared an important announcement this week: the launch of a new guide to help people spot early signs of su***de risk will be released by the end of the year.

It’s being created so that the public, caregivers, and employers feel better equipped to notice distress and offer early support when someone may be struggling.

The guide is in its final stages after input from youth, mental-health professionals, government partners, and NGOs. Our founder, Dr Chua Sook Ning, stood alongside Hannah Yeoh as this announcement was made.

Watch here:

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced on Wednesday (Nov 26) that a quick guide for early intervention in suspected su***de cases is expected to be ...

27/11/2025

Empathy isn’t always soft or “nice.” Sometimes, support feels like a hug 🤗 and other times it’s simply offering respect and space 🙏

Genuine empathy is about attuning to what someone truly needs in the moment. One person may crave closeness ❤️ while another feels safer with a steady presence 💪

The same gesture can heal or harm depending on how it’s received. Remember: empathy is responsive, not fixed.

25/11/2025

Therapy invites us to show up as we are, not how we think we should be.

Be as open as you can, even if it feels messy. Tell your therapist what’s working (and what isn’t). Some sessions will feel deep and others slow – both are part of the process ⏳

Real growth often happens between sessions, as you apply the insights to the relationship with yourself and others. You don’t need to do therapy “right” – just stay open, be curious, and let it naturally unfold.

If you need someone to talk to, we're here for you, in person or online: https://relate.com.my/relate-therapy-centre/

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