By, Qistina Rustam
GOMBAK, 26 December 2024: Caring for children with disabilities can be challenging, often leading to the neglect of caregivers’ mental health.
This was the focus of a special virtual forum organised by IIUM’s Support Association for Parents of Special Needs Children in collaboration with IIUM’s Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) on 20 December 2024 via Zoom and IIUM’s official YouTube page @OfficialIIUM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjifqjsy5WU&t=675s) that involved three speakers who are mothers of sons with autism.
SUPPORT’s Chairperson, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aida Mokhtar emphasized the importance of self-care. “One can’t take care of others if they can’t take care of themselves,” she stated, encouraging parents of children with disabilities to find time for themselves, even for small activities like having a drink with friends.
Clinical Psychologist from the Kulliyyah of Medicine, IIUM, Dr. Nazirah Ahmad Basri, added that having a child with a disability is nothing to be ashamed of. “We should be proud and support others in the same shoes,” she said.
She added that there is a three-tiered support system for this caregivers: community-level support, targeted support for at-risk parents, and specialized care for those in critical need, such as psychiatric intervention. She encouraged family caregivers to seek the help they need for the sake of their mental health.
Chairperson of Yayasan Budi Penyayang and parent advocate, Puan Nori Abdullah Badawi, highlighted the importance of using available resources. “Caregivers can advocate for their needs by voicing their concerns to family members and leveraging technology, even tools like ChatGPT, to seek information on how to manage their children,” she said.
The forum that was organised in conjunction with the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 (3 December annually) focused on the critical need to prioritize caregivers’ mental well-being titled, “Understanding the Mental Health Needs of Family Caregivers of Children with Disabilities.” The opening remarks were delivered by IIUM President, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman and the welcoming remarks were conveyed by SUPPORT Advisor, Prof. Dr. Akmal Khuzairy Abd Rahman.
The emcee and moderator of the forum was a student of IIUM’s Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Haziq Mohammad Rizwan. More information on SUPPORT can be obtained from its official Facebook page (with username: Support Association for Parents of Special Needs Children (SUPPORT)) and AMSA on its official Instagram (@amsaiium). Puan Nori organises a podcast for family caregivers that can be accessed on Instagram @kitafamilypodcast.***