From Mandalay to Kuala Lumpur: My journey with the ASEAN–Pacific Youth Mental Health Fellowship

Niang Sian Lawh Lun (junior student at Parami University)

I still remember the first week of April. Just after the earthquake in Mandalay, I sat in our temporary hut for the fellowship interview. With an unstable internet connection and so much uncertainty about the future, I joined the Zoom call and did my best, not knowing what might come of it.

A few weeks later, I opened my email and saw the news: I had been selected as the Myanmar fellow for the ASEAN–Pacific Youth Mental Health Fellowship by Orygen Global.

My name is Niang Sian Lawh Lun (Agnes), and I am a junior student at Parami University, majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). I am passionate about community development and gender equality, with a growing interest in mental health. Over the past few years, due to ongoing conflict in my hometown, life has changed dramatically. I have had to take care of myself and my family while facing my own struggles with mental health. Those experiences pushed me to care more deeply about this issue and to begin volunteering as a peer supporter for youth who need help.

When I received the selection email, I felt both proud and humbled. I am not a professional with degrees in psychology or psychiatry — I am just a student, an ethnic minority youth with lived experience. And yet, this fellowship allowed me to learn, share, and connect with others who also care about building a mentally healthier future.

For three months, we joined weekly virtual trainings and discussions with fellows across the region. Then, from August 8–12, we finally met in person in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the Forum.

The program was rich with learning. We had guest speakers from around the world —practitioners, policymakers, and alumni of the fellowship — who shared about youth mental health, systems change, and advocacy. But what I valued most were the opportunities to step outside the classroom and see real-world examples of mental health systems in action.

At Mentari, Malaysia’s community mental health hub, I learned how they support people in the “missing middle” — those who are not fully well but not yet in crisis. This approach left a deep impression on me, because I could see how preventive and inclusive support can make a difference before situations become severe.

At the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, in Putrajaya, we learned about the government’s role in coordinating mental health across sectors.

I also had the chance to present my initiative, Back to the Farm: A Mental Health Journey for Internally Displaced Chin Girls. Sharing this idea in such a space reminded me that youth voices matter, even in policymaking circles.

Of course, not everything was formal. Some of my favorite moments were the lighter ones —trying new food like nasi lemak (which quickly became a favorite), visiting the Batu Caves and the Petronas Twin Towers, and simply sitting around tables with my peers, talking and laughing about life. These moments of friendship made the forum unforgettable.

Looking back, I realize this journey gave me more than knowledge. It gave me confidence in pitching ideas and understanding policy, and it showed me that networking can be meaningful, even for an introvert like me. Most of all, it gave me hope — that even as a student from Myanmar with lived experience, I have a place in regional and global conversations on mental health.

From a shaky Zoom call in Mandalay to standing with youth leaders in Kuala Lumpur, this fellowship has reminded me that advocacy is not just about big policies. It is also about human connection, genuine care, and the courage to share our stories.

The fellowship benefits not only me but also the communities I belong to.

I plan to share the knowledge I gained from the fellowship in two main ways. First, as a peer mentor, I continue to support not only my assigned mentees but also other youth who reach out to me by sharing insights, tools, and encouragement that I’ve learned through the program. Second, since I am currently staying at the Mandalay Learning Hub, I will share my experiences and learning with my peers here through conversations and small group discussions. 

[This essay was sent in by Niang Sian Lawh Lun, a junior-year student majoring in a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Parami University.]