Malaysian broadcaster and author Freda Liu hosted the first session of The Kuaya Conversations, a public discussion series examining mental health and everyday pressures.

The opening session, titled The Full Life, was held on 3 September at The Kuaya in Kuala Lumpur. It explored the relationship between professional achievement, personal wellbeing and psychological pressure, particularly in women.

Liu was joined by Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Diana Dollah and licensed Clinical Psychologist Asha Dullabh. The discussion covered mental bandwidth, ambition and the demands associated with work and personal responsibilities.

The event formed part of The Kuaya’s wider programme on work, leadership, parenting, identity and life transitions. The centre said the series would focus on mental health concerns that can affect people before they reach a point of crisis.

The programme follows findings from Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2026, which reported that 34% of employees in Malaysia were thriving in their overall lives. One in five employees surveyed also reported experiencing stress for much of the previous day.

The Kuaya said ongoing pressure can affect attention, relationships, creativity and decision-making. The centre describes its approach as “human sustainability”, referring to the ability to pursue personal and professional goals while maintaining psychological wellbeing.

Liu, who has conducted nearly 10,000 interviews with business leaders and public figures, said her role in the series was to raise questions that people may recognise from their own experiences and discuss them with mental health professionals.

The Kuaya Conversations will continue to address mental health across different stages and experiences of life.