Faisal needs comprehensive psychological support, says expert
PETALING JAYA: Psychological support is not merely an option, it should be a requirement.

And more so in the case of footballer Faisal Halim who is recovering from a harrowing acid attack.

Sports psychology consultant Philip Lew Chun Fong said optimising mental wellness should be applied in every phase of the Selangor winger's injury rehabilitation process.

On Sunday, the local football fraternity was stunned when Faisal Halim suffered fourth degree burns after being splashed with acid at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya.

The player, who clinched the 2023 Asian Cup Goal of the Tournament award in Qatar in January, is expected to be out for five to six months and will miss out on the two remaining matches against Kyrgyzstan and Taiwan in next month’s second round of the 2026 World Cup-2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Philip said there will be a range of psychosocial challenges that an injured person experiences throughout the recovery process.

He said there would be a psychological reaction from Faisal, such as an emotional reaction – “I am sad that people want to hurt me”, and a cognitive remark – “I keep worrying about my condition and the safety of my family”.

"There might also be frustration, doubts, and potentially depressive symptoms in the early stages due to the required time to make sense of the situation," he said.
PETALING JAYA: Psychological support is not merely an option, it should be a requirement.