Puan Anita Abu Bakar is the Founder and President of MIASA Malaysia and the Chairman of the National Advocacy for Mental Health Association (NAMhA). A prominent advocate for mental health and social issues, both in Malaysia and internationally, she initiated Malaysia’s first peer-led mental health advocacy and support group. Anita holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Tulsa University, Oklahoma, and an MBA in Islamic Banking and Finance from IIUM. She worked as an investment banker for over a decade before dedicating herself fully to mental health advocacy.
Through MIASA Malaysia, Anita champions a human-rights-based approach to mental health, advocating for non-coercive treatments and deinstitutionalization. She founded The Orchid Clubhouse, Malaysia’s first peer-led mental health crisis management and activity center. Anita also initiated NAMhA, a peer-based mental health alliance inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). This alliance strives to protect and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs), focusing on their inclusion in various aspects of life.
Anita’s leadership has been instrumental in launching numerous support services, including MIASA’s 24/7 Crisis Helpline, home visits, peer support, counseling, spiritual therapy, and more. Her efforts have reached over 100,000 people, with MIASA conducting nearly 1,300 programs, impacting over 21 million individuals since the pandemic began.
In recognition of her contributions, Anita was appointed to several key roles with the Malaysian government. She served as a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for Suicide Prevention under the Ministry of Health and as an advisory council member for the Mental Health Promotion and Advisory Council under the Ministry of Health, reporting directly to the Minister of Health for four years and continuing in this role. She is also an ex-officio member of the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and has been actively involved in discussions on mental health policies and community projects. Anita was the Chairperson of the Board of Visitors for HUKM and was recently appointed as the Industry Expert for INTI University and College for a two-year term.
Anita is also a certified trainer, holding credentials as a trainer for the ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) program by LivingWorks Australia and the Optimal Health Program, a self-management recovery plan developed in collaboration between Malaysia and Australia. Additionally, she is a Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist by IPS, USA.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Productivity Champion Award (MPC) in 2023, the Top Healthcare Management Award from Health Expert Magazine in 2022, and the International Metrodora Awards, where she won the Patient Champion in Science and Medicine in 2022. Anita has represented Malaysia on global platforms, discussing mental health from a peer-led perspective. Her participation in events such as the International Metrodora Awards and collaborations with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and global organizations, underline her commitment to amplifying the voices of those with lived experiences.
Anita’s influence extends to media, where she appears regularly on TV, radio, and podcasts. She is a permanent panelist on Usrah Jiwa Zayan Astro and the Project Podcast x Syok. She also hosts the Anjakan Dogma podcast, a program in collaboration between Astro Syok and MIASA Malaysia. In addition, Anita hosts her own podcast under MIASA Malaysia called Real Conversations with Anita. She has been spearheading educational initiatives across Malaysia, reaching schools, universities, corporations, and government agencies.
Through her work, Anita continues to break down barriers, fostering understanding and compassion for mental health peers, and striving to create a more inclusive society.