WAN NURIN AMEYRAH KHAYRIN

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Defying the Stigma: Inaugurating healing and therapeutic architecture in preventive mental-healthcare for urban youths

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Existing as a taboo, mental illness are one of the most spurned health issues among Malaysians. This has created a stigma that leads to people suffering from it to be ashamed and embarrass with their condition especially among urban youth. In tandem with that, this has resulted to silent sufferings and isolation among the sufferers that end-up succumbing to self-harm and suicide ideation. A healing and therapeutic approach is adapted to create a preventive mental-healthcare facility that focuses on the 3A principle; Acknowledge, Alleviate and Advocate. The aim is to help urban youths to acknowledge the health conditions that they have through embracing them, alleviating the pain that they suffer from through active and therapeutic healing and advocating for awareness and their recuperation. A curative play park was designed to cater to each of the components using natural materials, passive designs and open concept to help improve mental-healthcare.