Sounds difficult during the best of times but more so during this pandemic and endless lockdown. But work is work and the folks at HITZ have managed to use their personal struggles to come up with programmes to help their listeners to cope with theirs.

We caught up with HITZ presenters Ean, Arnold, Zher, Keanu and Calista to talk about the radio station's efforts to help fellow Malaysians through these difficult times and more.

Can't run away from talking about mental health

Although HITZ has always been about fun, music, concert and everything entertainment, the topic of mental health and the pandemic is unavoidable so the team came up with ways to start a conversation around it.

Ean shared that everyone at the station noticed that they were slowly feeling down and there weren't really anything to pick them up. The conversations surrounding their own experiences led to other things.

"It's something we've all been experiences personally. I mean we've all been through the lockdowns that we have and how do we go on in this life we're going through now without addressing it?" Zher chimed in.

She added that mental health was a tricky and challenging subject to introduce as they weren't sure how much and what they can say.

"We want to remind people that we're not experts but we wanted to start the conversation because if we don't talk about it more people will not talk about it," she added.

One of the programmes that came about thanks to the presenters' own experiences is HITZ Hangout. "I think we were all going through something as well and because we were all locked in our own houses we don't even get to see each other in the studio and we didn't interact. The Hangout, it started with the five of us.

"It was a way for us to hangout and interact as a team and not just separate shows. It kind of spilled into hey we're talking about this kind of things. If we're going through this - I think the listeners a lot of times think we don't because we always portray happy outlook on air and stuff - it spilled over to lets bring listeners in a little bit," Calista shared.

To be honest, speaking to the team made even us feel better. Struggling to wake up and start the day and having to make up for the lack of motivation later? Feeling meh? Running out of ideas and inspiration to create better content? They feel all of it too!

Guess misery loves company. But if it helps us feel better or cope better, where's the harm?

If you're a listener of the radio station or follow them on social media platforms, you may have noticed that the interactions are also not just one way.

"We normally start by sharing our own struggles too so people can know that we are going through it too and they can slowly open up. It seem to be working pretty well so far," Keanu said.

Fun activities on air and social media

It's been more than a year since the first MCO and HITZ have come up with several new exciting initiatives.

Here's a short list of some of HITZ initiatives and how you can be a part of the fun as well as help others who are struggling. #KitaJagaKita kan?

• ‘Real Talk’, a platform for fans and listeners to get support where they can submit on topics that they want to talk about with HITZ personalities. The topics can include daily conversations, dreams and ambitions, mental health issues, how listeners are feeling at the moment, lifestyle aspects and many more. HITZ wants to listen, get real and talk about how fans are feeling about everything in life during this trying time. Click HERE for more information.
• ‘Stay Home Playlist’, fans can build their dream songs playlist and stream anytime on HITZ. The curated playlist will include up to 15 songs suggestion and fans can also name the playlist on their own. Please click HERE for more information.
• ‘HITZ FMCO Hangout: Game Night’, while staying at home, fans can also join the HITZ family for a game night. Fans can get to interact, talk and play a game with their favourite HITZ personalities and they can also share some games suggestions, trivia and more with HITZ. Click HERE for more information.
• #KamiCareHelpine, for vulnerable Malaysians to send in their requests for help via WhatsApp to all Astro Radio brands and receive daily necessities such as rice, sugar, salt, flour, biscuits, tea, canned food and instant noodles during these trying times. Click HERE for more information.

You're not alone

If we were a radio station, we'd end this article with Michael Jackson's 'You're Not Alone" but instead we'll share a summarised and rephrased pearls of wisdom from the HITZ presenters instead.

- There's no solution to the situation we're in. There will be good days and bad days. - Sometimes you're thriving, sometimes you're surviving. You just have to accept whatever mode you're in. - Don't bash yourself up. Do what you gotta do. - Sleep it off. - Don't let your mental health define you. You're facing an issue or illness, you're not the issue or illness. - Getting (professional) help could help. - Talk about the bad stuff.