Depression Pushing Teens to Suicide

By Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin

The prevalence of mental health issues in this country is certainly a cause for concern and in some instances, it has even led to death. It is most unfortunate that a matter as serious as this is being treated lightly and this state of affairs can be attributed to a lack of awareness and knowledge among the public.

This is the second of four articles looking into the extent of mental health problems in this country.

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Half of the mental health conditions worldwide start by 14 years of age, according to the latest, and shocking, statistics shared by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Sadly, most of these cases remain undetected and untreated.

Globally, depression is among the leading causes of mental illness among adolescents, while suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-to-19-year-olds.

WHO also pointed out that alcohol and drug abuse among adolescents was a major issue in many countries as it can also lead to risky behaviour.

To create more public awareness on mental health issues among adolescents, WHO selected the theme, ‘Young People And Mental Health In A Changing World’ for World Mental Health Day 2018 which was observed on Oct 10.

SUICIDE A WORRYING TREND

WHO has reported that globally and irrespective of race and religion, suicide was the second leading cause of death for people aged between 15 and 29.

Even more disturbing is its estimate that for every suicide case reported, 20 others have attempted to kill themselves.

In Malaysia, too, the incidence of suicide is on the rise among adolescents, regardless of race.

The Health Ministry’s National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2017’s findings confirmed the existence of suicidal behaviour among students, even among those as young as 13.

The survey found that 11.2 percent of the adolescents concerned had contemplated the idea of taking their own lives, nine percent planned to commit suicide while 10.1 percent attempted suicide.

It also found that among the 5.5 million adolescents in the country, one in five has experienced depression. In fact, one in 10 adolescents was recorded to have experienced stress.

The NHMS findings were obtained from 30,496 samples comprising students aged from 13 to 17 from 212 randomly selected secondary schools throughout Malaysia.

The media had also reported several cases of suicides involving students from January to October this year.

On Jan 22, a 14-year-old student in Penang accused of stealing a mobile phone went into a coma after she tried to hang herself. She passed away on Feb 1.

On April 2, a 20-year-old girl from Seremban, who was a student at a tertiary institution, committed suicide by jumping off a building. She had scored straight As in her SPM and was reported to have succumbed to depression.

In another case on April 19, a 24-year-old Malaysian studying at the University of Osaka in Japan took his own life after falling into depression.

On June 26, a 19-year-old student died after he shot himself in the toilet of a private college in Subang Jaya. He was reported to have been suffering from depression for a year.

On Oct 1, a Form Three student jumped to her death from the 11th floor of a building in Penang, just hours before she was due to sit for her PT3 examination.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL BULLYING

When a person is driven to the point of taking his or her own life, it means that they can no longer withstand the physical and mental stress arising from the problems hounding them.

The NHMS survey indicated that adolescent suicidal behaviour was linked closely to biological, socio-economic, cultural and environmental factors, with poverty and poor academic performance being the main drivers.

Psychological or psychiatric conditions like depression, schizophrenia, medicine abuse, alcohol consumption and personality disorders can also lead to suicide.

For many adolescents, the transition to adulthood can be rather unsettling as they find themselves undergoing physical, psychological and social changes.

When they find it difficult to cope with the accompanying stress, they become more vulnerable to developing emotional disorders which can even lead to depression, said Public Health Specialist Dr Nurashikin Ibrahim, who is attached to the Mental Health Unit at the Disease Control Division, Health Ministry.

“When adolescents become depressed, they tend to contemplate suicide or even plan to kill themselves. They can inflict self-harm or attempt suicide and then finally commit suicide,” she told Bernama.

Students can also experience stress if they are subject to bullying or if their appearance is ridiculed by others.   

“When a teen’s physique or face becomes an object of ridicule, it can hurt them deeply – even to the extent of them contemplating suicide,” she said.

Based on her experience handling cases involving adolescents with mental disorders, she said parents play an important part in ensuring their children were not trapped in deep emotional stress.

The tendency for some parents to compare their children’s physical appearance or academic performance with others can lead to unexpected consequences, she warned.

“The children also get stressed when their parents insist that they take up a course or career in which they have no interest at all,” she said.

Advising parents and guardians to seek medical attention immediately if they detect any emotional changes in their children, she said early treatment and therapy can bring their condition under control and prevent them from taking any drastic actions.

CYBER FACTOR

Meanwhile, a survey on Internet users carried out by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in 2016 showed that the broadband penetration rate in Malaysia was 78 percent, with students, compared to other sections of the population, spending the most time on the Internet at 20.9 hours a week.

An average 90 percent of students in all the states are Internet users.

The wide use of gadgets like smartphones and computers has made it convenient for these adolescents to “get whatever they want” without them realising the possible the ill-effects, one of which is cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying refers to insulting, mocking, ridiculing, disseminating false information or threatening an individual using cyber as the medium.

Although no physical harm is inflicted on the victim, many studies have revealed that the effects of cyberbullying are more detrimental than its physical counterpart.

Expressing his concern over the rising trend of Internet addiction among students, Mental Health Foundation executive director Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Abdullah said the NHMS survey showed that six out seven adolescents were active Internet users while two out of seven were addicted to online games, watching pornography and communicating with strangers online, with some of them also involved in cyberbullying.   

“This is a clear indicator of the mental health of our youngsters. If this is not checked, it can lead to bigger problems in terms of their mental health,” he warned.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye urged parents to monitor their children’s use of gadgets to prevent them from getting addicted to their devices.

“Extended use of digital devices can lead to health and even economic problems for the user… it may not happen now but if they are not monitored, they will eventually have to face serious problems and deal with the implications,” he said.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

In their efforts to promote better mental health among adolescents, the Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, has since 2011 implemented the Healthy Mind programme involving 2,343 secondary schools nationwide.

Under the programme, the students are screened to detect their depression, anxiety and stress scale before appropriate intervention is carried out, said Dr Nurashikin.

The teachers are trained to identify symptoms of depression and suicidal behaviour through the ‘Love Life, Raise Hope’ scope of the Healthy Mind training module, she said, adding that there was also a proposal to extend the Health Mind programme to community colleges in the country.

She added that the mental health scope was also included in co-curricular activities, as well as in subjects like health education and moral education.

The Health Ministry is also developing a National Suicide Prevention Action Plan to implement suicide preventive measures, as well as refining the preparation of the National Strategic Action Plan for the Mental Health Programme.

“These are among the efforts being taken by the government to help students to enjoy a better quality of life and to become successful human beings,” said Dr Nurashikin.

However, this is not something to be left entirely in the hands of the authorities or schools, instead, such efforts should be initiated at the most basic stage – at home.

It is for the parents and family members to detect changes in their children’s behaviour and motivate them to develop mental resilience so that they can keep negative influences at bay.

Children are not robots whose only mission in life is to attain academic excellence. They are humans who should be taught to cultivate positive values that can protect them from the stresses and strains of life.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIDEBAR

Types of cyberbullying:

Sending disturbing and threatening messages.

• Misusing other people’s passwords and screen names or impersonating others.
• Forwarding emails, photographs or videos to other people.
• Uploading indecent comments and photographs.
• ‘Sexting’ or sending photographs, messages or videos with sexual connotations via mobile phone.
• Deliberately excluding a certain individual from an Internet group.

Signs of cyberbullying:

• Facing emotional stress whilst or after using the Internet.
• Isolating oneself from friends and family.
• Staying away from school assemblies or groups.
• School grades dropping and getting angry easily while at home.
• Experiencing changes in behaviour and emotions, as well as sleep and appetite.
• Wanting to stop using the computer and mobile phone.
• Showing anxiety when receiving text messages or emails.
• Avoiding conversations related to computer or mobile phone activities.

Translated by Rema Nambiar

-- BERNAMA