Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Visha now runs an NGO with mum

When Mala Davi walked into her daughter’s apartment in 2011, she barely recognised her. The 19-year-old Vishalatchi Arunagiri weighed just 26kg. That was the physical toll of living with severe mental distress over a prolonged period.

Soon after, Visha was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which changed the course of her life forever.

After receiving treatment and learning to manage her condition, Visha founded Suara Minda, a mental health NGO she now runs with her mother.

The organisation, founded in 2020, focuses on advocacy, offering activities that support wellbeing and creating a safe space for those from underprivileged backgrounds.

But getting there was far from straightforward.

“I left Malaysia when I was five and lived in Thailand for 14 years. I was diagnosed with a learning disability and went to a special needs school before being home-schooled,” Visha, 34, told FMT Lifestyle.

She returned to Malaysia to pursue fashion merchandising. However, when the course proved overwhelming for her, and problems at home added to her stress, she fell into a depression, started drinking, and began smoking.

Her mother, meanwhile, had no idea how serious her daughter’s situation had become. Although Visha had been staying with friends and relatives, she was left alone for three weeks, during which her symptoms first emerged. By the time Mala travelled from Thailand to see her, Visha was in crisis mode.

“Her nails were black, the house was in a bad state, and she was talking and laughing to herself at midnight, standing at the door,” Mala recalled.

“At first, I thought I was psychic because I could hear voices and predict things. Eventually, I realised the voices were lying to me,” Visha said.

A psychiatrist diagnosed her with schizophrenia. “The psychiatrist was shocked when she saw that Visha weighed 26kg. The doctor said she might not have survived if we had delayed getting help,” Mala said.

Visha initially resisted treatment and medication but eventually agreed after persuasion from her family, undergoing psychotherapy and a three-month rehabilitation programme.

By 2014, she was doing much better. For Mala, the experience also changed how she viewed her daughter.

“I saw her as Visha, not as a schizophrenic. Eventually, I stopped being the overthinking mother and became a caregiver and facilitator. In 2011, there wasn’t much awareness about support groups. A lot of people still don’t know these places exist.”

Both mother and daughter became actively involved with the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) in 2014, while Mala also became a caregiver education trainer and trained in Mental Health First Aid.

Eventually, they created their own platform, “Suara Minda”, which means “Mind Voice”.

The NGO operates on a peer-run model, where individuals who have undergone psychiatric rehabilitation help guide others through early support and recovery.

It also runs creative workshops for people of all ages, from children to senior citizens, featuring activities such as pottery making, flower arrangement, baking, and stone art.

“I started doing creative activities because I saw the difference they made in me,” Visha said. “They help me focus, reduce my anxiety and, sometimes, make the voices less disturbing when I’m doing something with my hands.”

Last year alone, Suara Minda conducted 20 workshops and awareness talks with B40 communities, where Visha shared her lived experience while Mala spoke from her perspective as a caregiver.

“There are still so many myths, including the idea that people with schizophrenia are automatically dangerous or violent. When people hear Visha’s story, they’re usually surprised,” she said.

Visha still hears voices and has faced setbacks, including a hospital admission three years ago after becoming suicidal. She said she is now doing well under the care of her psychiatrist.

“Building Suara Minda has been a struggle. I still have to respect my limits and make time to rest. But this work gives me a sense of purpose and an opportunity to contribute,” she said.

Her goal now is to grow the NGO, and make counselling and psychotherapy more accessible.

“Suara Minda is a safe, non-judgemental place. Just come for a coffee and share what you’re going through when you have nobody else to talk to,” Mala said.

Follow Suara Minda on Facebook and contact Mala Davi at 017-350 3257.

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