By Mohamad Salleh Sulieman
THE alarming rate at which distress calls are being made, coupled with the rising numbers of suicide cases coming into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a call for concern in Malaysia.
To begin with, the Health Ministry’s psychosocial support line has reportedly been inundated with over 100,000 calls concerning numerous psychological issues this year, according to Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
Grieving over the loss of family members, burnout, anxiety and loneliness due to isolation may sound familiar during the pandemic, but what strikes everyone the most is when people resort to suicide to end the misery.
Mental health is no laughing matter. Perhaps the data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 could shed light on the situation whereby half a million Malaysian adults have been reported to suffer from depression.
The epidemic also sees some 424,000 children in Malaysia suffering from mental health with several contributing factors, such as relations with peers, self-conduct and unstable emotional state.
As cases of suicide and depression are escalating with no uncertain end to the pandemic, the world is left with no choice but to live around it while practising new norms.
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According to Dr Hilwa Abdullah @ Mohd Nor, mental health includes our psychological, emotional, and social well-being.
“I wish people knew that mental health is equivalent to physical health. It could affect your life and the people around you. You have to identify the stress in your life and learn how to deal with it.
“Job loss, financial and marital issues are contributing factors that can lead to depression and suicide amid COVID-19. The current lockdown has compromised mental health among Malaysians to some extent.
“Almost on a daily basis there have been reports on suicide attempts or suicide itself on social media, and things seem to get worse with each passing day,” she said.
So, what exactly is lurking in the mind of someone who is on the verge of a mental breakdown?
“In many cases, they just feel useless about themselves and say it out loud to others. They may start displaying unusual behavioural changes which are unlike their normal character.
“Slowly, they even fail to perform simple daily self-care routines such as taking showers or their meals. Then, withdrawal symptoms like self-isolation start to creep in,” Dr Hilwa said.
Close family members and friends can play their role by being good listeners to get into the root of the problem. Most people who are suffering from depression are known to keep their guard up and become recluses.
If the symptoms are getting out of hand, she says, one should consider getting professional help immediately.
She also encouraged people to get early intervention as the recovery rate is high.
“Don’t put things on hold whenever you see the symptoms among family members, friends, or even in yourself,” she advised.
For those whose social life and interaction are restricted due to lockdown, she said, it should never be an excuse for not getting in touch with one another.
“We can use technology to reach out to one another. A simple how-are-you text message or a short video call via WhatsApp, for instance, could help.
“A simple phone call is a good way to distract their attention from suicidal thoughts. If you have good people skills, you can bring back all the good memories and cheer them up. It could be a relief for them who may be crying inside,” she opined.
Reducing Stigma
One of the major challenges in mental health is to fight the social stigma that comes with the problem. In the Malaysian context, Dr Hilwa said society’s acceptance, in general, is still low.
“It can worsen mental health problems. It also creates barriers and mars reputation of someone who is battling with mental issues. In Malaysian culture, they are simply labelled as ‘gila’.
“Just look at what happened when HIV/ AIDS became the topic of discussion in the ’90s. Due to lack of information and misunderstanding at that time, HIV/ AIDS patients received the wrong perception they didn’t deserve,” she said.
Dr Hilwa also suggested sharing stories with the right kind of people in support of reducing social stigma.
“Sharing is one of the best ways that can help reduce stigmas in society. When people talk openly about stigmas, it can encourage and support others who share similar experiences.
“Find the right support group who can help you. It promotes empathy and understanding to those who are battling mental issues,” added Dr Hilwa.
She also lauded the Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association (MIASA) whose approach is to get some local celebrities upfront in the face of preventing stigmas in mental health in this country.
“Celebrities are the new influencers that the world needs now. The combination of experts, celebrities and media are powerful enough to help educate the society,” she said.
Dr Hilwa Abdullah @ Mohd Nor is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSK), UKM. She is also a clinical psychologist at the PsiTra Klinik Psikologi dan Konsultasi, FSSK UKM. Hilwa specialises in clinical psychology specifically in mental health and psychology of children and adolescence. Her research focuses on the causes, prevalence, assessment, diagnosis and treatment for various mental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism and depression among young people.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of TVS.
