HEAL Corner

JUNAINAH MOHD EUSOPE - With empowerment, there is strength

“I hope my words can be a source of encouragement for those walking through mental health challenges.”

Junainah Mohd Eusope, affectionately known as Kak Junn among her peers, has walked a long and inspiring journey of resilience and recovery.

In the early 2000s, she faced profound mental health challenges, experienced depression, unexplained bouts of crying, and suicidal thoughts. Diagnosed with severe depression in 2002, she made a difficult decision to resign from her job three years later. At that time, Junn struggled to accept her condition and was initially resistant to treatment and medication, which caused her mental health to deteriorate further.

With time and encouragement, Junn was introduced to professional support at Simei Care Centre and the Institute of Mental Health. It was through engaging in handicraft work that she began to rediscover her voice and reconnect with others.

“Handicrafts have a healing effect on my soul. They allow me to express my emotions and help calm my wandering mind,” she shares.

Over the next decade, Junn learned to manage her emotions with courage and determination. As her condition improved, she was inspired to help others, who were going through similar struggles. This motivation led her to join Club HEAL in early 2014.

Now at the age of 70, Junn serves as the Arts and Crafts Coordinator under the Recovery Wellness Programme. In this role, she provides a safe and nurturing and environment for individuals on their recovery journey to connect, express, themselves creatively, and acquire new skills.

Through her work, Junn has found renewed confidence and optimism.

“I hope my words can be a source of encouragement for those walking through mental health challenges. Every step is about empathy, which is important for destigmatisation – to be able to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and understand others and how they feel.”

Click here for more information on Club HEAL’s Recovery Wellness Programme