"Please don't take down this video. If you take down this video, my friends... I don't know how to send a message to all of my friends."
Those words from an 18-year-old boy have left many people heartbroken after he uploaded what would become his final video on YouTube before his death at Komtar, Penang.
The video was not just a goodbye. It was a message filled with love, memories, apologies and hopes. Behind those final words was a young person who still cared deeply for the people around him, even as he struggled with pain many never saw.
And perhaps the most painful question we should ask is not only "Why did this happen?" but also:
"How much pain can someone carry before they feel they have nowhere else to turn?"
Video Source: Sunflower 太阳花‘s Facebook Reel
In the video, the teenager spoke about the people who mattered to him.
He wondered whether he truly had many friends or not, but he still mentioned the people who had been important in his life. He talked about his best friend, who was studying with him in the same class and the same course, describing him as a good person.
He also shared a small but meaningful detail about himself: his lucky number was 24.
He expressed his love for his friends by saying: “I love you guys 24 times.” A simple sentence, but one that showed how much he valued the people around him.
He also mentioned a girl he had liked since primary school, through secondary school, and into Form 6. These memories showed that his life was not empty. He had connections, feelings, and people he cared about.
One of the most heartbreaking parts of the video was that he still talked about his dreams. He believed his future could be wonderful. If he lived a simple single life, he wanted to become a comic artist. He had something he wanted to create and a dream he wanted to pursue.
He apologised for doing "stupid things" and "crazy things", while reminding his friends: "Please stay strong. Don't give up. Don't feel sad. Don't feel sorry. The sad one is me."
Those words are difficult to hear because they show someone who was still thinking about others even during his own darkest moment.
Behind One Final Moment Was a Long, Invisible Struggle
In his video, he described his decision as something foolish. When I look back on this tragedy, I do not see an act of strength. Instead, I find myself wondering what kind of emotional pain someone must experience to believe that ending their life is the only option left. What we see is only one final moment. What we do not see are the days, weeks, or months before it. We do not see the thoughts they kept hidden. We do not see the moments when they wanted someone to notice their pain but did not know how to ask for help. That is why mental health awareness matters.
Many people who struggle do not always show obvious signs. They can laugh with friends, attend classes, go to work, and appear completely normal, while silently fighting battles inside.
Sometimes One Conversation Can Save a Life
Many people underestimate the power of simply checking in. A message saying,
“You've been quiet lately. Are you okay?” or “I'm here if you ever want to talk.” may seem small. To someone who feels invisible, those words can mean everything. No, we cannot solve another person's problems overnight. We won't always know the right thing to say. But listening without judgement is often more valuable than offering perfect advice.
Sometimes people don't need solutions. They simply need someone willing to stay.
Malaysia Needs to Talk About Mental Health More Openly
Although conversations around mental health in Malaysia have improved over the past few years, many people still fear being judged if they admit they are struggling. Some worry about being labelled “weak.” Others don't want to become a burden to their families or friends. As a result, many continue suffering in silence. Changing that starts with all of us. Every one of us has the opportunity to create a safe space where someone feels comfortable asking for help before reaching their breaking point, no matter whether we are parents, teachers, friends, classmates, colleagues, and so on.
An 18-year-old should have been planning his future. He should have been chasing his dream of becoming a comic artist. He should have been creating memories with his friends instead of recording a final goodbye. We cannot change what has already happened. But we can decide what happens next.
If this tragedy encourages more Malaysians to take mental health seriously, to check in on loved ones more often and to remind one another that asking for help is a sign of courage, not weakness, then perhaps some good can emerge from an unimaginable loss.
Behind every smile may be a struggle we cannot see. Behind every quiet person may be a story they haven't found the words to tell. Let's choose kindness. Let's choose compassion, and let's make sure the people around us know they never have to face their darkest moments alone.
Felicia Yoan (feliciayoan11@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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