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nabilahs's review against another edition
5.0
GILA is a compilation of the definition, the difference of mental disorders, the untold stories of Malaysian live as mental illness survivors, the resources and experiences of psychiatrists, psychologists, resources of hospitals and many more.
How I wish I picked up this book sooner.
How I wish I picked up this book sooner.
misspalah's review against another edition
5.0
I shelved this book under the education because Malaysians seriously need to be educated especially in the mental health issue. Recently, there's quite few of suicide and homicide cases due to the depression, bipolar disorder and any other mental health disorders. Unfortunately, majority of Malaysian especially among Malay Muslims community dismissed mental health disorders as 'tak kuat iman' or 'tak bersolat' or any other snide remarks which did not help anyone and further causing people to not seek help due to the backlashes from the society. This shouldn't happen in the first place. I rated this 5 stars because Hanna Alkaf outlined and wrote this heavy topic in such a leisure and chill manner. There's a stories shared by the mental health patients and a compilation of facts and cases of the mental health disorders. If you want exposure in a concise manner about mental health, choose and read this book.
terangbulan's review against another edition
4.0
My book club had the pleasure of having Hanna Alkaf as one of our speakers for our first writing workshop. Initially, I wasn't familiar with the concept of creative non-fiction , but as the author explained further during the talk, I become more interested, especially it involves a taboo topic.
What I Liked: The short stories that are told by patients in the book gives us a whole new perspective on how mental illness is handled by society and the government, also the challenges faced by the patient. With these stories, the author includes some facts and figures about the current situation that is happening in Malaysia so that the reader can learn more. The additional information provided sometimes scares me, because it really shows the lack of treatment and lack of investment by government towards mental illness patients.
What I disliked: I feel that this book did not give more stories where mental illness patient has a happy ending..some of them has an OK ending. I guess the author did it to emphasise that mental illness patient is still being mistreated nowadays... sigh
What I Liked: The short stories that are told by patients in the book gives us a whole new perspective on how mental illness is handled by society and the government, also the challenges faced by the patient. With these stories, the author includes some facts and figures about the current situation that is happening in Malaysia so that the reader can learn more. The additional information provided sometimes scares me, because it really shows the lack of treatment and lack of investment by government towards mental illness patients.
What I disliked: I feel that this book did not give more stories where mental illness patient has a happy ending..some of them has an OK ending. I guess the author did it to emphasise that mental illness patient is still being mistreated nowadays... sigh
izzatiidrus's review
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.0
A very informative book shining light on mental health issues in Malaysia. The book covers the experiences of those afflicted by all sorts of mental illness, the current situation in Malaysia (2016) based on statistics, the differences between psychology and psychiatry, the expectations on psychologists and psychiatrists and even mentall illness among the homeless.
For a short book, it is packed with lots of information and very easy to read. Even though it is a non-fiction touching a sensitive and heavy topic, it's not dry at all and was not in any way triggering (as books on mental health usually are) for me.
For a short book, it is packed with lots of information and very easy to read. Even though it is a non-fiction touching a sensitive and heavy topic, it's not dry at all and was not in any way triggering (as books on mental health usually are) for me.
fearandtrembling's review against another edition
4.0
"Similarly, Hanna’s exploration of asylums in forensic wards for mental illness in places like Hospital Bahagia in Tanjung Rambutan, Perak, shows that even modern medical treatments are tainted by a legacy of abuse and outright brutality and violence.
These closing chapters address the issue of the institutionalisation of the criminal and the homeless, which is probably vast enough an area to be addressed in a separate book devoted just to this particular topic.
It is shocking and heart-rending, as when we learn that cheap labour is obtained from patients in forensic wards, who are paid RM1 a day to raise crops on land or RM3 a day to work in the hospital canteen.
One of the first female directors at Hospital Bahagia since its inception in 1911, Dr Ruby (in full, Dr Hajjah Rabai’ah Mohd Salleh) highlights these solutions as a sign of how the hospital helps its patients reintegrate into society, but one wonders if reintegration is primarily based on the premise of who is able to earn a living."
An excerpt of my review of GILA in The Star.
These closing chapters address the issue of the institutionalisation of the criminal and the homeless, which is probably vast enough an area to be addressed in a separate book devoted just to this particular topic.
It is shocking and heart-rending, as when we learn that cheap labour is obtained from patients in forensic wards, who are paid RM1 a day to raise crops on land or RM3 a day to work in the hospital canteen.
One of the first female directors at Hospital Bahagia since its inception in 1911, Dr Ruby (in full, Dr Hajjah Rabai’ah Mohd Salleh) highlights these solutions as a sign of how the hospital helps its patients reintegrate into society, but one wonders if reintegration is primarily based on the premise of who is able to earn a living."
An excerpt of my review of GILA in The Star.
speculativebecky's review
4.0
This slim volume is basically a mini textbook about mental illness in Malaysia, and it seems very well researched and composed. Alkaf carefully combines personal anecdotes from Malaysian individuals who have struggled with mental illness, expertise from mental health professionals, facts and figures, and advice for readers into this compact package. I found it to be a great place to start learning, and Alkaf's passion for the topic was a valuable companion to reading some hard stuff.
lthe7th's review
4.0
Idk why but this took a long time to read when it was such a thin book and it was relatively easy to read. Blame it on my distractedness. It's probably a year now.
This was actually the first book I got from Hanna Alkaf. I think I was curious about the subject matter and surprised that Malaysia actually published a book on mental illness. I can't imagine the amount of interviews she had to go through to get this book done, with the people having their conditions and the people doing their utmost to make a difference.
There are also parts like what not to say to someone having a mental illness and differences between some o the conditions. It's not an all encompassing book but it is a pretty good primer on mental illness in Malaysia. Which we need more of considering many mental health resources that are available are mostly US-based.
This was actually the first book I got from Hanna Alkaf. I think I was curious about the subject matter and surprised that Malaysia actually published a book on mental illness. I can't imagine the amount of interviews she had to go through to get this book done, with the people having their conditions and the people doing their utmost to make a difference.
There are also parts like what not to say to someone having a mental illness and differences between some o the conditions. It's not an all encompassing book but it is a pretty good primer on mental illness in Malaysia. Which we need more of considering many mental health resources that are available are mostly US-based.
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