"Do you ever think about killing yourself?"

Not the easiest question to ask someone, especially a stranger. However, we were taught early in medical school that when confronted with the possibility of suicidal ideation, it is very important to not make assumptions and ask questions directly. At best it can save a life, at worst it will let the person know that there’s an opportunity or avenue to discuss matters.

One of the challenges of dealing with depression is that a still surface may hide deep issues. And when it comes to depression, the issues do not necessarily follow a logical pattern or be a result of a life-changing event. Yes, people can feel low after a bad day, but in clinical depression, you may contemplate suicide without any triggers in the first place.

When Robin Williams took his life, many Malaysians took to social media to express their anguish and the loss of the life of one who has brought such joy to the lives of others. In the space of less than a week, the world mourned the loss of two more celebrities who took their own lives. Once again, many are online expressing their anguish and in some cases, highlighting the need to be more aware of mental health issues.

But in terms of care provision to those with mental health disease – what has changed between the death of Mr Williams and Mr Bourdain?

Arguably nothing.

According to Dr Chua Sook Ning, more than one in four Malaysians suffer from mental health disease. However there is only one psychologist and one psychiatrist per 100,000 Malaysians, added the founder of RELATE, a NGO dedicated to improving mental health care in Malaysia.

The lack of professional support is compounded by the fact that there is a lot of misinformation regarding mental health diseases alongside the age-old issue of stigma. Many prefer to bury their heads in the sand or seek complementary/spiritual intervention. It would be unfair to blame individuals only, as insurance companies generally do not cover the costs of mental health disease.

With public sector service that is overwhelmed with issues of capacity and insurance companies that are not willing to cover the costs of mental health ailments, many will only have access to proper treatment if they have the means to pay out of pocket. In the context of a stagnant economy that is just starting healing process, it means that many will ignore the problem until it is too late.

It is reassuring that the Pakatan Harapan manifesto identified mental health disease as one of the key issues to be tackled. Inevitably, it will take time for results to manifest itself but it is essential that certain key efforts are put into place. The subject of building capacity in terms of personnel and infrastructure is easy enough to highlight but in the longer term, the government should partner with stakeholders to increase access to healthcare as well as promote healthcare literacy that addresses the myths surrounding mental health disease. There should also be anti-discriminatory laws against mental illness - disclosure of such a diagnosis may lead to job losses with the fear factor adding to the culture of secrecy and shame.

Partnerships can take place in many forms - from engaging universities to identify or suggest policy ideas that address the link between poverty and mental health disease to involving religious authorities such as MAIWP in efforts to differentiate disease from belief. Ultimately, the approach needs to be holistic and evidence-based.

At the other end, NGOs and individuals should not only voice out their concerns, but work together to achieve concrete changes that can make a difference to the lives of the many silent sufferers of mental health disease. Otherwise the current furore will ease into a whimper until the next famous person commits suicide.

Listen to the podcast 'Have You Thought About Killing Yourself?':

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

FAQ

Contact Us

Careers

Advertise

Download The App

Car Sticker

Community

Copyright © BFM Media Sdn Bhd (200601017962)