Respect Other Beings, We Will Then Be Respected.

26 Volunteers from 17 chapters in Malaysia, get training and share knowledge with each other for 3 days in Mersing, Johor, Malaysia. The family meetings have become key engagements in Trash Hero organisation’s calendar: as a diverse and dispersed network, they provide the leaders with the vital time and space for immersive, face to face communication that helps to equip and motivate volunteers for the coming months. As the meeting is primarily for the chapter leaders, which obviously I am not, I only spend the time with them during the beach clean-up at Air Papan Beach on the third day.  Trash Hero Perlis leader, Rosnani Nazri (in pink hat). From frontline: Trash Hero Perlis, Trash Hero Mersing, Trash Hero Putrajaya. Acting tourists. Harvest time. Trash Hero Borneo team. From the air. Trash Hero Langkawi leader, Ulrika Player. Trash Hero UK, Seema, and Trash Hero Johor Bahru, Mohan Ponan. Trash Hero Batu Buruk, Yus Berlin....

Although the general perception of mental illness has improved over the years, studies show that stigma against mental illness is still high-powered, massively due to lack of education and media stereotypes, and that people tend to attach negative stigmas to mental health conditions at a far higher rate than to other diseases and disabilities, such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. Stigma affects not only the number seeking treatment, but also the number of resources available for proper treatment. Stigma and misinformation can feel like overwhelming obstacles for someone who is struggling with a mental health condition. Here a few influential things you can do to help: Showing individuals respect and acceptance Advocating within our circles of influence Learning more about mental health A mental illness is a  physical illness of the brain  that causes disturbances in behavior, energy, thinking, or emotion that make it difficult to cope with the ordinary dem...