title: It’s time to consider LGBTQ-affirmative psychology in Malaysia

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

abstract: International studies have revealed stark mental health inequities affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. While there is increasing awareness of higher prevalence of mental health difficulties among LGBTQ people in Malaysia, this issue has often been viewed through a cisheterosexist (cisgenderism and heterosexism) lens that criminalizes, pathologizes, marginalizes, and/or delegitimizes noncisgender and nonheterosexual forms of identities. Informed by LGBTQ-affirmative psychology, this viewpoint aims to scrutinize the common misconceptions surrounding the living experiences of Malaysian LGBTQ people; these include poor mental health among LGBTQ people, victim-blaming narrative of sexual violence, LGBTQ is a mental illness, and LGBTQ is a Western influence. This viewpoint draws on empirical and theoretical research, as well as international guidelines, to debunk these misconceptions. Recommendations are also provided for psychology practitioners and researchers to embark on the journey to supporting Malaysian LGBTQ people in a culturally safe manner.

text: It’s time to consider LGBTQ-affirmative psychology in Malaysia International studies have revealed stark mental health inequities affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. While there is increasing awareness of higher prevalence of mental health difficulties among LGBTQ people in Malaysia, this issue has often been viewed through a cisheterosexist (cisgenderism and heterosexism) lens that criminalizes, pathologizes, marginalizes, and/or delegitimizes noncisgender and nonheterosexual forms of identities. Informed by LGBTQ-affirmative psychology, this viewpoint aims to scrutinize the common misconceptions surrounding the living experiences of Malaysian LGBTQ people; these include poor mental health among LGBTQ people, victim-blaming narrative of sexual violence, LGBTQ is a mental illness, and LGBTQ is a Western influence. This viewpoint draws on empirical and theoretical research, as well as international guidelines, to debunk these misconceptions. Recommendations are also provided for psychology practitioners and researchers to embark on the journey to supporting Malaysian LGBTQ people in a culturally safe manner.

year: 2021

title: Risk management in stalking victims: A multi-agency approach to victim advocacy

authors: Jerath, Kritika

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: A pilot Multi-Agency Stalking Intervention Programme (MASIP), introduced in three police forces in England, provided among a range of interventions, the delivery of safety planning advice, and needs-based support for stalking victims through a bespoke advocacy service. The ultimate aim of MASIP was to equip victims with tools to manage the variety of harms caused by stalking, as well as enable them to access the criminal justice system with adequate support. This study explores the personal needs of stalking victims from the perspectives of stalking victims, advocates and stakeholders involved in the intervention program, as part of a larger evaluation study conducted by the authors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 10 stalking victims who participated in the MASIP, three advocates who directly interacted with the victims, and 19 MASIP stakeholders involved in the project. Findings revealed that overall, victims believed the advocacy service aided their ability to cope with the realities of stalking. Having a victim advocate as single point of contact made victims’ journey through the justice system easier to navigate, provided them with the emotional support that they required to deal with the harms of stalking and the practical advice offered regarding their personal safety, and allowed them to feel in control of their own risk management. Advocates reported that the multi-agency context helped in risk assessment and ability to design and deliver bespoke support plans, which uniquely improved victims’ engagement with the service. Due to the small size and possibly biased sample, our conclusions must be interpreted with caution.

text: Risk management in stalking victims: A multi-agency approach to victim advocacy A pilot Multi-Agency Stalking Intervention Programme (MASIP), introduced in three police forces in England, provided among a range of interventions, the delivery of safety planning advice, and needs-based support for stalking victims through a bespoke advocacy service. The ultimate aim of MASIP was to equip victims with tools to manage the variety of harms caused by stalking, as well as enable them to access the criminal justice system with adequate support. This study explores the personal needs of stalking victims from the perspectives of stalking victims, advocates and stakeholders involved in the intervention program, as part of a larger evaluation study conducted by the authors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 10 stalking victims who participated in the MASIP, three advocates who directly interacted with the victims, and 19 MASIP stakeholders involved in the project. Findings revealed that overall, victims believed the advocacy service aided their ability to cope with the realities of stalking. Having a victim advocate as single point of contact made victims’ journey through the justice system easier to navigate, provided them with the emotional support that they required to deal with the harms of stalking and the practical advice offered regarding their personal safety, and allowed them to feel in control of their own risk management. Advocates reported that the multi-agency context helped in risk assessment and ability to design and deliver bespoke support plans, which uniquely improved victims’ engagement with the service. Due to the small size and possibly biased sample, our conclusions must be interpreted with caution.

year: 2020-12-15

title: Ngā ia nōnoke taketake

authors: Manuirirangi, Hōri

subjects: whātōtō nōnoke mamau

abstract: Tā tēnei tuhinga, he titiro ki ngā kōrero onamata mō ngā mahi nōnoke a te Māori. I mua, whāia ai te nōnoke e ētehi hapori Māori hei koringa tinana, hei tū hākinakina, hei tākaro hoki. Ko te nōnoke, te whātōtō, te taitai me te mamau, he rite katoa. Nō te kuhutanga mai o ngā tini whakaawenga a tauiwi, ka nui hoki te Māori i tahuri ki hākinakina kē. Nāwhai ā ka mimiti te whāia o te nōnoke. Kei tēnei tuhinga, ka āta wetekina ngā kupu me ngā kōrero o te reo nōnoke o mua, arā ngā tohutohu a ngā pāhake e whakaahua ana i ngā tūmomo neke, i ngā whiu me ngā puringa mahia ai e te kaiwhātōtō. Ka arohaehaetia tēnei mea te karakia, te waiata me te pepeha kia kuhuna ai te hinengaro o te kaiwhātōtō e mārama rawa ai te ia o ōna whakaaro, tōna waiaro me tōna whanonga. Waihoki ko ngā pūrākau o mua, kua whakaemia ētehi tauira kia tīroua ngā karere i whaona ki roto. Ko te tino whāinga, ko te whera i ngā rangahau nei kia āta mōhio ki ngā koronga me ngā horopaki whāia ai e te Māori o mua ngā mahi nōnoke.

text: Ngā ia nōnoke taketake Tā tēnei tuhinga, he titiro ki ngā kōrero onamata mō ngā mahi nōnoke a te Māori. I mua, whāia ai te nōnoke e ētehi hapori Māori hei koringa tinana, hei tū hākinakina, hei tākaro hoki. Ko te nōnoke, te whātōtō, te taitai me te mamau, he rite katoa. Nō te kuhutanga mai o ngā tini whakaawenga a tauiwi, ka nui hoki te Māori i tahuri ki hākinakina kē. Nāwhai ā ka mimiti te whāia o te nōnoke. Kei tēnei tuhinga, ka āta wetekina ngā kupu me ngā kōrero o te reo nōnoke o mua, arā ngā tohutohu a ngā pāhake e whakaahua ana i ngā tūmomo neke, i ngā whiu me ngā puringa mahia ai e te kaiwhātōtō. Ka arohaehaetia tēnei mea te karakia, te waiata me te pepeha kia kuhuna ai te hinengaro o te kaiwhātōtō e mārama rawa ai te ia o ōna whakaaro, tōna waiaro me tōna whanonga. Waihoki ko ngā pūrākau o mua, kua whakaemia ētehi tauira kia tīroua ngā karere i whaona ki roto. Ko te tino whāinga, ko te whera i ngā rangahau nei kia āta mōhio ki ngā koronga me ngā horopaki whāia ai e te Māori o mua ngā mahi nōnoke.

year: 2017