Do mental health issues personally affect me?
Now some of us may be thinking, “do mental health issues personally affect me?”.
And don’t get me wrong, if you are not battling with a mental health issue, that is a good – great thing in fact. However, it is interesting to note that according to the 2015 statistics provided by the National Health and Morbidity Survey, 1 in 3 adults in Malaysia either consciously or unconsciously suffers from mental health problems. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Philip George commented that statistics in regards to mental health issues are often downplayed, due to the stigma that surrounds the condition (in reference to depression). He pointed out further, “This is not something that only attacks the poor, weak and lonely. It happens to anyone and the World Bank had predicted that 340 million people will suffer from depression by the year 2020.”
Psychologist Dr Adrian Lim described mental illness as a ‘silent killer’. The need to treat it becomes dire, especially if the sufferers are young individuals. Based on his observations, there are several key factors which contributes to the rise in mental health issues among youths[1]. There is a misconception that mental health issues only affects those who are ‘weak-willed’, but this has not proven to be the case. Many external factors such as financial constraints, family problems, careers, and being afraid of the perceptions of family and society, does play a role in affecting one’s mental state.
Speaking to Metro UK, psychiatrist Dr Jinseng Park had explained on the competitiveness that exists among young people in schools in Korea: “In the 1970’s, Korea became a highly industrialized society. Because of this, students have been in severe competition from childhood by pressure from their parents”[2]. Competition in healthy doses can be good for a person, as it can contribute to an eventually balanced work ethic and a greater drive towards obtaining fulfilment in life (e.g through their work or passions). However if the pressure gets too much, it is not surprising if they then suffer from feelings of severe frustration and inferiority. The next question that arises is this: what happens to those feelings of severe frustration; are young people able to express them, or will they keep it bottled up inside? Two very different outcomes can result from these two options.
A different take on the prevalence of mental health struggles among youths today was proposed, in which there is a co-relation between the increase of smartphone usage to teen depression and suicide. According to the Pew Research Center, smartphone ownership crossed the 50% threshold in late 2012 – right when teen depression and suicide began to increase. It was found that teens who spent more hours a day online were 71% more likely than those who spent only one hour a day to have at least one suicide risk factor. The problem now is that teens spend lesser time interacting with their friends, but are more invested in social validation or the games on their mobiles. Friendships and relationships are one of the deepest wellsprings of human happiness; and without it, our moods will start to suffer. The outcome of the research seems to suggest that in our current day and age, mental health issues can also be triggered by a lack of balance in our day-to-day pursuits, a lacking of meaningful relationships, inadequate sleep – or a combination of all three[3].
How can this stigma be defeated?
Dr. Lim Sheri from Penang Medical College, had suggested that the stigma surrounding mental health issues can be tackled in four areas: society, media, medical education, and the field of psychiatry[4].
- Society. Prince Harry in an interview with BBC news (April 2017), had expressed that the UK in recent years has “shown the appetite for conversation around mental health”, and he believes that this has been a step in the right direction. In the UK, headteachers have been becoming more concerned about the increasing pressure children are put under amid the “scramble for places, parental expectations and cramming for tests both at school and from tutors”. It is assuring to know that other sectors such as the education field, are becoming more mindful of the overall well-being of their students, and not just the usual focal point of their academic results. The North London Girls’ School Consortium had put forth in a statement: “…we have a collective obligation to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of all of our pupils and we are determined to do what we can to improve the selection process for these young children[5]”.
- The Media. Public figures have been more candid with their battles against mental health, and in turn their bravery have contributed to the rest of the public feeling ‘safer’ to step up about their own personal struggles. However, there are risks involved when information is shared irresponsibly, or when they are shared for the wrong intentions. Rather specifically, the occasional inaccurate media portrayal of mental health issues. There are several times where mental illness is casually referenced online as ‘trendy’ or a ‘cool’ personality trait, which is a complete derail of what mental health issues actually are. Examples include picture captions off-handedly describing depression as something expected when “one has been strong for far too long”, or posts portraying self-harm and suicide as a tragic art form[6]. Some social media users go as far as to push others to take their own lives, and this behaviour has astounded many experts. Psychiatry expert Professor Dr T. Maniam of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia termed their actions as “bigotry”, and yet some teens still continue to carry on this form of cyber-bullying and peer pressure[7].
In terms of the portrayal of mental illness in the media, let’s take into account the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” as an example. The series has garnered strikingly different responses. The storyline follows the fictional story of a teenage girl named Hannah Baker, who had left behind 13 mysterious audio recordings on cassette tapes after killing herself. She addresses each recording to a person who she says played a role in her decision to end her own life.
On the one hand, it has been criticised by many mental health advocates for the show could have indirectly planted a glamourized picture of suicide. Following closely in its plot, 13 Reasons Why seems to portray how a suicide could reform a sinner, soften a bully, or change the character of another – which is a seriously misguided thought. It is reckless to suggest that suicide can stand as a vengeance against others for all the sufferings one has gone through[8]. Furthermore, there was no specific mention of depression or mental health issues in any of episodes of season 1. ‘Vulnerable’ viewers who watch the show may not understand that suicide can be prevented, and it’s not the “way out” of situations that get too intensive[9].
On the other hand, did 13 Reasons Why help contribute to a greater discussion of mental health? Due to the popularity the show has garnered, not only have teens been talking about it – but professional organizations, mental health associations and suicide prevention websites have also taken the opportunity to help educate the public better on the reality of suicide. Another point that could be considered is if the series have helped people struggling with the thoughts of suicide, to be able to speak up? One of the writers of the series defended the graphic portrayal of the main character’s suicide, for he believed that showing the actual reality of the act reminds the public that it’s not just the simple notion of ‘drifting away’ from all the problems[10], but rather they wanted to depict the true pain that comes with it: to the victim, the family, and their peers. However, since the show’s release, the National Association of School Psychologists had included “guidance” for educators and families of teens who might watch the show[11]. It was suggested that engaging in thoughtful conversation about the show would be highly recommended to ensure that the right perspective is taken away from the series, and what its actual message was.
- Medical Education. Dr. Uma Visvalingam, a consultant psychiatrist at Putrajaya Hospital, believes that the prejudice against mental health issues is formed because most people have misconceptions about their conditions. “There is a difference between mental illness and mental health problems; and these two conditions have different medical approaches. People are quick to judge and say they (mental health patients) are crazy, when they actually require monitoring by psychiatrists,” she explained[12].
Hence, doctors and other healthcare professionals do play an important role in their take towards mental health problems or mental illnesses. Having the right approach would better help manage patients. Dr Lim suggested therefore that these attitudes should be implemented through early psychiatric postings during medical school, to be able to better serve the community appropriately.
- Psychiatry. Psychiatrists play an important role as well, for they are the ones equipped with the proper knowledge. Hence, they are able to detect the misconceptions, avoid possibilities of misdiagnosis, as well as being able to recommend effective treatments. Dr Lim pointed out that some of the major issues in treating psychologically unwell patients was the lack of mental health professionals in government hospitals or the public health sector ― which leads to low quality care, expensive treatment in private health facilities, little insurance covering mental illness, and adding on the social stigma that is still prevalent in our society. According to 2016 statistics, the Malaysian government only had 12 clinical psychologists, 163 psychiatrists, 188 psychological officers, 314 medical officers, 40 social workers, 1,220 staff nurses and 697 assistant medical officers to handle public psychiatric care[13].
What can we do?
Surprisingly we still live in a time when it is ‘breaking news’ that Prince Harry had sought therapy after the sudden and tragic death of his mother. It shouldn’t be news that a human being looks for support after an incident that would leave any person shattered. Prince William aptly puts forth, “We need to make mental health normal, and we need to treat it in the same way we treat physical health[14]”.
Furthermore, struggling with your mental health and seeking help for it is not a weakness. It’s not ‘pretty’, ‘cool’, or ‘a tortured artist’ – seeking help is proactive, it’s brave and it’s hard work. Dr Philip George commented on the effectiveness of therapy, “It [mental illness] is not something one can snap out of. However, with enough help and support, almost 90% of the patients can be restored to who they are aside from their condition. They may have a relapse as their emotions are more sensitive, but they can be cured with the right help”.
What can we do? In making the effort to understand the actual reality of mental health and adding up the efforts of each of us, a support network as well as an increase in public education of mental health issues can be built. In understanding, it builds compassion, and in compassion, it builds love. Caring for the mind is as important and crucial as caring for the body. In fact, it is high time we understand that one cannot be healthy without the other.
Win Li
Pursuing her law degree, but secretly inspires to also be a writer. Occasionally has deep thoughts about life and conjures emotional proses about them. “She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future” (Proverbs 31:25).
Blog Address:
https://thoughtcatalog.com/lily-low/
[1] Malay Mail Online, “Mental illness a ‘silent killer’, says psychologist”, 30th June 2017, http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/mental-illness-a-silent-killer-says-psychologist#8yKB2ibLH3bMzhMK.97
[2] Emma Kelly, “Jonghyun’s tragic death shines a light on K-pop’s mental health epidemic”, 4th January 2018, Metro UK, http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/04/jonghyuns-tragic-death-shines-a-light-on-k-pops-mental-health-epidemic-7203608/
[3] Thrive Global, “With Teen Mental Health Deteriorating Over Five Years, There’s a Likely Culprit”, 23rd November 2017, https://www.thriveglobal.com/stories/17558-with-teen-mental-health-deteriorating-over-five-years-there-s-a-likely-culprit
[4] Brenda Lau, ibid.
[5] Camilla Turner, “Leading girls’ schools scrap entrance exams amid mental health concerns”, 10th October 2017, The Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2017/10/10/leadig-girls-schools-scrap-entrance-exams-amid-mental-health/
[6] Lim Su Lin, “Romanticising mental illness on social media”, 14th May 2017, The Malaysian Insight, https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/3046/
[7] Adib Povera, “More needed to address mental health issues”, 3rd August 2017, New Straits Times, https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2017/08/263529/more-needed-address-mental-health-issues
[8] Deborah Serani, “13 Reasons Why: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”, 16th May 2017, Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/two-takes-depression/201705/13-reasons-why-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly
[9] Chantal Da Silva, “13 Reasons Why on Netflix: Does it really glamourize suicide?”, 20th April 2017, The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/13-reasons-why-nextflix-suicide-selena-gomez-mental-health-backlash-a7692871.html
[10] Jacqueline Howard, “Why teen mental health experts are focused on ’13 Reasons Why’”, 25th April 2017, CNN, https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/25/health/13-reasons-why-teen-suicide-debate-explainer/index.html
[11] National Association of School Psychologists, “13 Reasons Why Netflix Series: Considerations for Educators”, https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/preventing-youth-suicide/13-reasons-why-netflix-series-considerations-for-educators
[12] Brenda Lau, “Malaysia’s stigma of people with mental health problems: A pressing concern”, MIMS Today, https://today.mims.com/malaysia-s-stigma-of-people-with-mental-health-problems–a-pressing-concern
[13] Azril Annuar, “Fewer than 400 psychiatrists to treat over four million Malaysians, say expert”, 12th December 2017, Malay Mail Online, http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/less-than-400-psychiatrists-to-treat-over-4-million-malaysians-says-expert#7iVjy88fSPzDKka7.97
[14] May Bulman, “Prince William speaks on carrying burden of grief and shock at his mother’s death for 20 years”, 19th April 2017, The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/prince-william-princess-diana-death-moment-found-out-shock-mental-health-lady-mother-prince-harry-a7690176.html
