Puan Anita Abu Bakar is the Founder and President of the Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association Malaysia (MIASA Malaysia). She is a strong and known advocate for Mental Health and social issues in Malaysia and internationally. She initiated the first Peer-led Mental Health Advocacy and Support Group in Malaysia.

As Anita was born and raised overseas, she subsequently pursued her tertiary education at Tulsa University, Oklahoma in the United States. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, with a minor in Management Information Systems.

Upon her return to Malaysia, Anita pursued a career path as an Investment banker, and worked in the corporate field for over 10 years. She also holds an MBA in Islamic Banking and Finance from the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM).

Through MIASA Malaysia, Anita champions the recovery model and the human-rights based approach simultaneously striving for non-coercive treatments and deinstitutionalization.

In her passion in shaping the Mental Health Ecosystem towards a recovery model approach, she established the ‘The Orchid Clubhouse’, Malaysia’s first Mental Health Crisis management and Activity Centre which is Peer-led and Peer-run.

Anita also initiated the National Advocacy for Mental Health Association (NAMhA) in 2021 and was appointed as the Chairperson for NAMhA, the first peer-based mental health alliance in Malaysia. Inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), this Alliance aspires to provide a constructive platform for a louder voice to promote, protect and ensure the rights of PWDs and work towards the Inclusion of mental health peers in various aspects of life including education, employment, housing, social protection and health, home and family and more.

The various support services and activities that Puan Anita help initiate include MIASA’s 24/7 Crisis Helpline (120 Crisis Team members are mobile across the nation), conducting home visits, Peer Support, Family Support, Circle Time, Spiritual Therapy, Art-based Class including Drama and Speech classes, Supported Employment Programme, Mental Health programmes on the Radio, Food Baskets for the B40 groups and homeless folks, volunteering opportunities and more. 

Puan Anita is also the Founder and Managing Director of Qaiser Darussalam Publications, which was founded in January 2013, subsequently gaining branch status by Darussalam Publications. In Ramadhan of 2013, Qaiser did a business take-over of IslamKids.media, and merged the two companies.

In July 2013, Qaiser opened up its Islamic Academy offering Islamic classes for children, teenagers, adults, reverts and non-Muslims.

Qaiser continues to strive in being a one-stop centre for the ummah.

More recently, on the 30th of March 2022, Puan Anita was the official selected winner of the Patient Champion for Science and Medicine award by the International Metrodora Awards hosted by the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) together with title sponsor Viatris.

Following her Metrodora win, Anita was invited to co-lead the Mental Health Forum in Geneva on the 5th of May 2022 as one of the panelists to discuss and present the topic, “Improving Access to Mental Health Care in Asia” from a peer approach and perspective.

She also wins Productivity Champion (Category: Leader) by Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) 2023, was selected as the winner of the Top Healthcare Management Award 2022 by Health Expert Magazine, a certified trainer for ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), from LivingWorks Australia and a Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist by IPS, USA.

She is also a certified trainer for the Optimal Health program (a self-management recovery plan); a Malaysia-Australia collaboration, part of the Review Committee for the CPG for the management of Schizophrenia peers and has represented MIASA on discussions with the Ministry on various areas of mental health, proposed ideas on projects in the community and was previously the Chairperson of the Board of Visitors for HUKM. 

Puan Anita has also attended the Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) training by NCD Alliance Advocacy Institute, Quality Rights workshop, suicide gatekeeper training workshop, Mental Health Literacy training by WHO and more.

She has appeared on many TV & radio channels and both digital and print media including TV1, BernamaTV, TV AlHijrah, Astro, NTV7, NXNow, Bernama Radio, Sinar, NST, Berita Harian, Harian Metro, The Star, and more.

She made her first TED Talk appearance for TedxXAimstUniversity in 2021, delivering ‘A Message of Hope’ and was approached by BBC World News for an interview on her work but unfortunately didn’t materialise due to the COVID situation during the time. She has also been interviewed by ABC News Australia, Islamic Channel UK, and was recently on the ListenWell Podcast by Viatris, discussing Stigma and Mental Health along side Dr. Javed, the President of the World Psychiatrist Association.

She is the guest speaker for HAWA Segment on a TV Channel in Malaysia called SukeTV covering 3 segments on Mental Health every month for two years now. She was also featured in The Guardian UK for the Decriminalisation of Suicide in 2023.

In addition, her dedication to supporting those in need and their caregivers has led MIASA Malaysia to a new collaboration with Radio Station, Radio Zayan, where she is the permanent panel in a weekly segment as part of their “Usrah Jiwa” slot. Every week, listeners can tune in to gain valuable insights and information about mental health, fostering understanding and compassion for those grappling with these challenges. This collaboration with Radio Zayan further cements her commitment to destigmatizing mental health issues and providing a platform for open and constructive discussions surrounding the topic.

She is also an accomplished podcast host, having spearheaded two influential mental health series, Real Conversations with Anita, organized by MIASA Malaysia and sponsored by Iltizam by Ekuinas, delves into critical discussions on mental well-being.

Additionally, she leads the podcast ‘Anjakan Dogma’, a thought- provoking podcast produced in collaboration with Syok! Astro alongside celebrity and mental health advocate, Diana Danielle as co-host, explores various dimensions of mental health and challenges prevailing stigmas.

Previously, one of her programmes under MIASA Malaysia named Journey to Recovery and Kembara Syifa has aired in IKIM.FM, a local Islamic radio station reaching out to those struggling with mental health disorders and caregivers. 

Through these platforms, she has significantly contributed to raising awareness and fostering dialogue around mental health issues.