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The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Penang NGO celebrates 40 years of being a lifeline for women and children
In the heart of Penang, a quiet movement has been transforming lives for four decades. It began in the mid-1980s, when a small group of volunteers offered crisis counselling for domestic violence survivors from a small municipal car park. Today, the Women's Centre for Change (WCC) is a nationally recognised organisation, known for championing the rights of women and children, helping to shape national policies, and standing firmly beside those navigating some of life's most difficult experiences. As WCC celebrates its 40th anniversary, its legacy is best reflected in the voices of the women it has walked with, like Aisyah and Lisa (*pseudonyms), who found safety and a renewed hope through the organisation's support. WCC works with Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC) and One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) in public hospitals to train First Support Points to respond to domestic violence cases. New life Aisyah was abused by her father from the age of six to 16. Photo: FreepikAisyah was sexually abused by her father since she was six. The emotional and physical trauma shaped her entire childhood. She only realised something was deeply wrong after a school lesson on personal safety. But fear kept her silent. Her father had threatened to hurt her mother. Unable to bear the burden any longer, Aisyah confided in her mother, hoping to find support. But instead, she faced disbelief and anger. Isolated and in despair, her mental health deteriorated and she left school. At 17, she fled from home. With her foster sister's encouragement, Aisyah filed a police report and was sent to the hospital for a medical examination. She was referred to WCC's centre at the Women's Service Centre (PPW) in Seberang Perai for counselling. But her mother intercepted appointments and limited her phone access. A year later, Aisyah finally connected with a health clinic counsellor, who referred her directly to PPW. Through four counselling sessions, a PPW social worker taught her coping skills for what she had gone through. Pressured by relatives to withdraw her case, Aisyah's emotional and physical health declined. She had post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and epilepsy, which required hospital care and medication. Two years later, her father was finally charged in court. Supported and accompanied by her fiance, PPW's social worker and her psychologist, Aisyah attended the trial. At the fourth hearing, the accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced. For Aisyah, now 18, it was a long-awaited turning point. 'I want to leave the pain behind and build a new life – with peace and purpose – with those who have supported me,' she says. Turning point Lisa, a mother of six, endured abuse from her husband for over a decade – physical intimidation, emotional control and financial restrictions. Photo: FreepikLisa, a mother of six, endured abuse from her husband for over a decade – physical intimidation, emotional control and financial restrictions. He dictated her every move, isolating her from loved ones, even pulling her daughters out of school during the pandemic. In 2022, after a violent attack, Lisa decided to leave him. As she was walking by WCC, she instinctively walked in. The WCC social workers supported her over the next two years, providing crucial counselling to help her heal emotionally and rebuild her self-worth. They also helped her find work as a seamstress. WCC also provided counselling for her daughter who developed anxiety disorder and helped Lisa build strategies to support her son who struggled with anger issues and suicidal thoughts. They also helped raise emergency funds for her children's schooling and food. Eighteen months later, Lisa filed for divorce. The process was difficult and contested. But the WCC social workers were by her side every step of the way, providing emotional support and accompanying her to court hearings. Today, Lisa is financially independent and emotionally grounded. She took on multiple jobs to support her family – driving a school van, giving tuition and doing administrative work. 'WCC helped me move from survival to strength. They stood by me when I felt completely alone,' she says. Decades of impact I hope the next generation of women will be bold, compassionate and unafraid to speak out, says WCC executive director Loh Cheng Kooi, stories like Aisyah's and Lisa's embody what the NGO stands for. 'We have grown from a small crisis centre into a comprehensive organisation providing emotional support, legal aid, outreach, education and policy advocacy,' she says. Among WCC's proudest milestones are its school-based programmes: 'Ok Tak Ok', which teaches children about good and bad touch, and 'Respek', which educates teens on healthy relationships. These programmes have reached tens of thousands of students. In 2023, 'Ok Tak Ok' was held in 67 schools, attended by 7,700 children. WCC has also played a key role in national reform. Its support in a high-profile workplace misconduct case in the early 2000s was instrumental in pushing for the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (2022). Its research into child-related offences contributed to the development of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (2017), a law that better protects minors. Another major step came in 2009, when the Penang state government partnered with WCC to open PPW in Seberang Perai. Today, PPW handles nearly twice the number of cases compared to the island office, revealing a critical need for accessible services on the mainland. In 2017, WCC launched the WCC Value Shop, a preloved goods store that now provides sustainable source of income for the organisation – run with the help of volunteers. Looking ahead Social media campaigns are important for WCC to reach to a wider audience. 'There's still much work to do,' Loh notes. 'We need more trained professionals, stronger coordination among agencies, and a cultural shift in how society views survivors.' With digital access rising and many young people exposed to unhealthy content early, Loh says prevention must start young. 'By teaching children about respect, safety and body autonomy, we empower them to protect themselves and others.' Loh also emphasises the importance of internal care. 'This work takes a toll. So we make sure our team has regular peer check-ins, case sharing and time for self-care.' 'As for the future, I hope the next generation of women will be bold, compassionate and unafraid to speak out,' she says. 'Together, we can build a safer, more just society.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stifel Keeps Buy Rating on Alto Neuroscience (ANRO)
Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (NYSE:ANRO) is one of the 11 Best New Penny Stocks to Buy Right Now. On June 26, Stifel reiterated its 'Buy' rating on Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (NYSE:ANRO) with a price target of $10. This decision came after the company announced Phase 2 proof-of-concept results for its drug ALTO-203 in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with elevated levels of anhedonia. A close-up of a healthcare professional in a lab coat, handling a pipette with medications for neuroscience diseases. The trial showed mixed results. However, Stifel analysts noted that ALTO-203 showed significant positive effects in improving sustained attention and increased wakefulness. The strongest results were seen in patients with more abnormal theta/beta EEG ratios at baseline, which is a biomarker that can be used to help diagnose ADHD. Stifel described the trial as exploratory with low expectations, noting that although this program keeps some options open for Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (NYSE:ANRO), it does not change the core investment view as the company prioritizes its late-stage pipeline. The next steps for ALTO-203 are yet to be determined. Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (NYSE:ANRO) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of treatment options for neuropsychiatric disorders. While we acknowledge the potential of ANRO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best American Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now and 11 Best Fintech Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Business Wire
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
ANRO Investors Have Opportunity to Lead Alto Neuroscience, Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit with the Schall Law Firm
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces the firm has filed a class action lawsuit against Alto Neuroscience, Inc. ('Alto Neuroscience' or 'the Company') (NYSE: ANRO) for violations of the federal securities laws. Investors who purchased the Company's securities pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's initial public offering ('IPO') conducted on or about February 2, 2024 and/or between February 2, 2024 and October 22, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before September 19, 2025. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at or by email at bschall@ The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Alto Neuroscience led investors to believe that ALTO-100 was more effective in treating major depressive disorder ("MDD") than it actually was. The Company overstated its business and financial prospects. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the offering period. When the market learned the truth about Alto Neuroscience, investors suffered damages. Join the case to recover your losses. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.
Business Wire
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Rosen Law Firm Urges Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (NYSE: ANRO) Stockholders with Losses in Excess of $100K to Contact the Firm for Information About Their Rights
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of purchasers of common stock of Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (NYSE: ANRO): (i) pursuant and/or traceable to Alto's initial public offering conducted on or about February 2, 2024 (the 'IPO'); and/or (ii) securities between February 2, 2024 and October 22, 2024. Alto describes itself as a 'clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in the U.S.' For more information, submit a form, email attorney Phillip Kim, or give us a call at 866-767-3653. The Allegations: Rosen Law Firm is Investigating the Allegations that Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (NYSE: ANRO) Misled Investors Regarding its Business Operations. According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Alto's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, the offering documents and defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) ALTO-100 was less effective in treating major depressive disorder ('MDD') than defendants had led investors to believe; (2) accordingly, ALTO-100's clinical, regulatory, and commercial prospects were overstated; (3) as a result, Alto's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (4) as a result, Alto's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Alto Neuroscience, Inc. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must file their motions with the court by September 19, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here. All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Rosen Law Firm: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions. Rosen Law Firm does. Rosen Law Firm is a recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improving corporate governance structures, and holding company executives accountable for their wrongdoing. Since its inception, Rosen Law Firm has obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: on Twitter: or on Facebook: Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
The hidden lives of autistic women
This was it. This was where years of research and self-doubt had brought me; years of switching from pill to pill and doctor to doctor. It had been almost a decade of collecting diagnoses like BPD, PTSD, MDD, GAD, OCD, ADHD, Anorexia Nervosa. Here I finally was, my eyes glued to a long list of my symptoms I had compiled on the note app on my phone, bouncing my leg as I waited to see my new psychologist. I had decided against adding subheadings and printing the list at the last moment so I could add to it if I remembered more symptoms. And simply because I enjoy making lists. (Imagine sharing that with a classroom when your teacher asks what your hobbies are on the first day of school. Spoiler: you don't. You lie, and because you're bad at lying you end up saying something stupid like, 'I like sleeping.') The list was as long as the years of wondering why I felt more alone in rooms full of people, screaming at myself in the mirror to 'just be normal,' carving neat parallel lines into my flesh until 'the right amount' of blood had trickled down my forearm. After what felt like hours (it was 20 minutes), the doctor opened the door to her office, and I was ushered in. She nodded at me and handed me a stack of forms to fill. Not off to the best start, but I sped through them hoping we'd get to talk once I did my assigned work (I've always been a diligent student). Then she collected them from me and ushered me right back out the door – well she tried to. I took this as my cue to finally speak. 'I'd like to get tested for autism --' She cut me off, laughing. 'You can't be autistic, you're normal.' Normal? What was that supposed to mean? 'But I have a whole list of symptoms on my phone if you want to take a look--' Apparently, this was funny, too. 'There's no need for that,' she laughed, waving a hand in dismissal while the other opened the door for me. I felt myself flare up with anger, but I knew there was no point in arguing as I drifted out of her office on autopilot. This wasn't the first time I'd been told this. But this was the first time a licensed medical professional had laughed in my face while saying it. I really thought this time would be different. I thought if I prepared enough and tried to unmask, someone other than my roommate would finally believe me. I couldn't shake the feeling that if I had been a little white boy rambling about trains, this encounter would have taken a completely different turn. This is not an isolated occurrence, and not just for me, but for most autistic women all over the world. Only eight per cent of girls with autism are diagnosed before the age of six, while 25 per cent of boys with autism are diagnosed before this age. Eighty per cent of women remain undiagnosed at age 18. These statistics do not convey the true intensity of the situation as they only consider autistic women who are eventually officially diagnosed, while most autistic women go their whole lives not receiving a diagnosis from a doctor. Many of us self-diagnose while others are still searching for answers for why they feel different from others. Understanding autism According to Dr Victoria Milner, a trainee clinical psychologist from King's College London who investigates barriers to diagnosis and support for autistic women and girls, 'Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is characterised by differences and challenges with social interaction and communication, in addition to restricted and/or repetitive behaviours and interests.' It can affect nonverbal communication, like reading and enacting 'appropriate' body language. 'Your face might seem expressionless even though you're feeling things. And a lot of autistic people find it hard to predict what other people, particularly non-autistic people, might say, think or feel and what the consequences might be,' said Robyn Steward, an autistic person, researcher and author of The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype. Autistic people also tend to take things literally, sometimes including idioms and figures of speech, because we have a very direct, straightforward communication style that may be interpreted as blunt or rude by allistics (non-autistic people) who are not as prone to just saying exactly what they mean. For instance, when she was a child, Steward's mother asked her to put the bread in the toaster. 'Five minutes later,' Steward recounted, 'she asked me if the toast was done and I was like, 'No, because you didn't tell me to press the button.'' Steward had followed her mother's instruction but didn't understand what she meant (to toast the bread). Many autistic people experience sensory differences, which could be taking in too much or not enough sensory information from one or all their senses. This can result in under-stimulation or overstimulation. We may engage in stimming, repetitive routines or try to find or create silence to cope with this. A majority (75 to 90 per cent) of autistic people have special interests, usually on narrow topics, that they intensely focus on. Since autism is a spectrum, not everyone displays it in the same way or to the same extent. Different autistic people may have different struggles and different strengths. Female autism phenotype Women often present their autism in a way that differs from their male counterparts. This is often referred to as the female autism phenotype. There is no biological reasoning for this, but more so a social one, as Steward explained, 'I would be more inclined to say that perhaps there's more of a feminine presentation of autism and a masculine one because I don't think your gender or biological sex necessarily determine how autism presents.' According to Dori Zener, director of a mental health and peer support agency that works with neurotypical and autistic helpers to help individuals with their mental health, 'Some people say there's no such thing as a female autism phenotype. It's more like internalised autism versus externalised autism.' Due to the way society conditions women to be obedient, get along with others, and suffer in silence, women tend to internalise their autistic traits more and more often than cis men. This tends to make their autism invisible to those around them and sometimes even to themselves. In fact, autistic women camouflage and mask three to four times more than men. 'Masking is, unconsciously or consciously, hiding autistic traits to fit society's expectations. On measures of self-report for autistic traits, women have scored themselves higher than when an external assessor is rating them,' said Sarah Murphy, a trainee clinical psychologist and one of the authors of a recent publication about seeking autism diagnosis for women in Australia. 'Girls being quiet and keeping to themselves is often associated with being a good girl and might not be picked up on as different to what's typically expected, compared to a boy growing up with similar traits,' she added. Why we fail to see autistic women Mariam's* ability to mask was one of the fundamental reasons obtaining a diagnosis was difficult. 'Being a woman, that too from a religious minority, would make me be a people pleaser in most social settings,' said the 29-year-old from Karachi who was diagnosed with autism last year. This internalising of emotions often leads to the development of mental illnesses and unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and self-harm. In comparison to the externalised hyperactivity, agitation, and breakdowns that autistic men are more likely to portray, these internalised manifestations of autism in women allows them to fly under the radar. Autistic women don't tend to see themselves in the media, and neither do the people around them. This includes parents, teachers, pediatricians, and general physicians: the people we rely on to refer a child to a psychiatric expert for said diagnosis. 'There is evidence that shows when presented with a vignette of an autistic character, teachers are more likely to suggest the character is autistic if they are told the character is male, compared to when they are told the character is female,' said Dr Milner. 'An autistic girl may be considered 'shy' when she experiences difficulty making friends, whereas an autistic boy is more likely to be recognised as having social difficulties and subsequently be offered support,' she adds. This leads to many autistic women, myself and Mariam included, straight-up being told that we 'can't be autistic.' This gender bias is present in the world of research and health care itself. According to Murphy, our conceptualisation of autism historically has been around male dominated samples, researchers, and doctors and it is based on these populations that our diagnostic assessment tools have formed. 'In the past, there was a theory that autism was like this extreme version of the male brain which doesn't necessarily hold water. But I think that says a lot about how we think about autism and gender,' she said. One of my favourite parts of being autistic is my special interests. I love how I can focus my undivided attention on them for hours at a time on a regular basis (despite my ADHD) and be able to derive pure joy just from learning more about the topic or even just hearing someone mention it in passing. My special interests, however, are also part of the reason my autism manages to remain undiagnosed. The special interests experienced by autistic women are more commonly relational in nature, compared to more physical or mechanical interests experienced by autistic boys and men (sorry to bring up trains again). Similarly, there is some evidence to show that autistic girls' interests are more often similar in topic to their non-autistic peers, but their intensity and duration may be what sets them apart from 'neurotypical' interests. 'I always kept socially acceptable special interests like food, cinema/filmmaking, makeup,' shared Mariam. 'So, an autistic girl might be really interested in Barbies, but the way that they engage with them is different. They might line them up around their bathtub as opposed to playing with them and interacting with them,' said Zener. Autistic women may also have a person such as a celebrity like Taylor Swift as their special interest but because women who are interested in such things are often dismissed and stereotyped as 'crazy fangirls,' it makes it hard to pick up on the difference between being a fan and having a special interest. ' Nearly 80 per cent of women with autism are misdiagnosed – often with conditions such as borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Some of these labels are helpful because they help shed light on a part of the picture. But other labels can be harmful and can dissuade women from seeking the services and support that we really need. Doctor's lack of knowledge about autism in women and even autism in general in Pakistan can also manifest in other ways. 'The misconception that my therapist had about autistic people that they don't have empathy delayed my diagnosis. When actually I'm hyper empathetic because of autism,' said Mariam. Her stimming has often gone under the radar and not qualified as such because it is subtle, such as skin picking or knuckle cracking. Most doctors recognise the more obvious stimming displayed by men. Importance of early diagnosis A lot of the dangers that come with getting a late diagnosis stem from psychiatric professionals being unable to provide their patients with the proper care because they don't know they're autistic. Even if autistic women are not misdiagnosed with other conditions, not receiving an autism diagnosis increases their chances of developing depression and anxiety disorders, due to the isolation and negative self-perception that comes with not being understood and going through life thinking there is something fundamentally 'wrong' with us. 'When you know you have autism and you can be part of the autism community, that can really help, because (autistic) people older or more experienced than you can point you towards resources and information,' said Steward. Being diagnosed and learning about autism has allowed her to heal old wounds. 'All my lifelong struggles finally make sense now,' she says. Stigma hurts, misdiagnosis may be fatal Autistic people are six times more likely to commit suicide than non-autistic people, and autistic women are twice as likely to die by suicide than autistic men, but the population with the greatest risk of suicide are women who mask and camouflage more. 'Imagine all day long you're acting in a way that is not yourself. It's very invalidating and it takes a huge amount of effort and energy,' said Mariam. The sources and the language around autism awareness in the past have been hugely stigmatising, misleading, and negative. Receiving an early diagnosis is not always helpful unless you can positively frame the diagnosis. 'I met younger girls, between the ages of nine to 18, who say they hate their diagnosis, and they reject it outright because they think that being autistic means that there's something wrong with them. A lot of them will say, that means my brain is broken. That means that no one's going to love me. There are so many horrible stereotypes about autism that create a stigma,' said Zener. 'I think what needs to change is the people who are giving diagnoses need to get rid of the word disorder at the end of the autism spectrum. Call it a condition.' This positive, inclusive, diverse, and more accurate awareness is being seen on social media. 'You can go on TikTok now and understand what autism is just by watching a ten-second video,' Zener said. 'There are great books now that are written by autistic women. So, I often say, if you want to learn about autism, go to the source. Really listen to autistic women's stories,' she added. Most schools, universities and governments do not accept an autism diagnosis if it is not from a doctor, and so self-diagnosed autistic women (who make up the majority) are not eligible for the support they need. If any progress is to be made, the diagnostic tools for autistic assessment need to be made more gender inclusive, receiving a diagnosis needs to be made accessible and most of all, autistic women need to be listened to and believed – even if we don't like trains. *Names have been changed to ensure privacy
