RMO: Mental Health Among Students and How To Cope Better.
Written by Jane Law Lee Bin. Edited by Rifqi Faisal.
Mental illness has been the bone of contention over the several few years. Thanks to the Internet, we see them more now on tv shows, movies, books or even a random post we’ve stumbled upon on Twitter. Compared to the past, the topic of mental illness has recently been given more light and has never shy away from the public for a talk over a cup of tea.
With many more people trying to play the advocate by bringing awareness to the issue, it’s such a shame to see that we still live in a country where mental illness is hardly recognized despite the exposure it’s been getting.
On the authority of experts, mental illness is expected to be the second biggest health problem affecting Malaysians after heart disease by 2020. Last year, the Social Welfare Department (JKM) saw 1,929 people come in for psychological and counselling services, which is a staggering 300% increase from 671 people in 2018, and that’s not the biggest bolt of the blue from the news. What’s even more jolting is that the youngest patient to receive treatment was 4 years old! Not only are mental illness cases in Malaysia increasing tremendously, children as young are also beginning to experience mental health issues.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2017 conducted by the Health Ministry’s Institute for Public Health (IPH) reported that 50% of 120,420 students faced personal problems which included exam stress, 29% faced family issues, 11% faced problems with friends, and 10% faced conflict with their teachers. NHMS 2017 also revealed that adolescents, between the ages of 13–17, suffered from mental health problems.
It isn’t exactly relieving either to hear that many students are struggling even harder during this difficult period of time. The now implied Restricted Movement Order (RMO) has definitely taken a huge strain in everyone’s life, especially when it comes to our mental health.
How can the RMO negatively impact the mental health of students?
The round the clock barrage of news regarding the current outbreak of COVID-19 can cause particular challenges for students, predominantly those living with anxiety, stress and other related problems.
According to clinical psychologist, Dr. Aisya Musa, students might feel the loss of routine in their lives as a result of suspension of schools. Without the certainty of a routine to help us cope with change, form healthy habits as well as reduce stress levels, panic can start setting in. Panic and over exertion may lead to a fatal burnout, which can develop into major depression with detrimental consequences, if not dealt with.
Besides that, some students could possibly be facing stumbling blocks outside a normal academic environment, primarily if they come from an abusive household or are in the midst of a financial crisis (parents or siblings being laid off from jobs and pay cuts).
Explicitly, if the lines between a workplace and a site for rest are blurred, students may dislike online learning as it disrupts their home life. As hard as it’s to believe, there is even more stress faced by the students now due to students being overworked from the overbearing amount of homeworks given from school. Dr. Aisya stated that this stems from the assumption that due to the current RMO, students will have more time for their studies. Therefore, resulting in more workload and closer deadlines given to them.
What can students do to cope better with the RMO?
So, how can we keep our sanity and deal with the so-called Corona Anxiety? Here are a few constructive solutions to take care of your mental health, as suggested by Dr. Aisya, a Chartered Clinical Psychologist.
Create a schedule.
A lot of students might feel like they’ve lost their sense of time due to not being at school, following a routine. The RMO could induce grief in the sense that you’ve lost something you used to have everyday. Creating a schedule could be useful in instilling a routine back unto your days and could reduce anxiety and tiredness.
Do not bottle your feelings.
Write down what you’re feeling in a diary. Try journaling. Confide your problems to your friends or someone you can trust. Suppressing your emotions, be it anger or sadness, can take a huge toll on your body. So, acknowledge these emotions and confront them in a healthy way.
Let your close friends know how you feel and express them in a positive environment. Although it might be daunting to share your feelings and experiences, you would have to let it out one way or another.
If you do not feel comfortable do call a hotline instead! Numbers are listed below the article.
Know what you can and cannot control.
Some things are just way out of the grasp of our hands but that’s okay. Understand that what you can’t do may sometimes be out of your control. Instead, honor what you are capable of achieving! List down what you can do such as school work, self-care or even simple household chores. The feeling of accomplishment can be very important, especially during this isolation period.
Set your boundaries.
If you’re living in a house with parents you have difficult relationships with, let them know you don’t feel comfortable discussing emotionally distressing topics. Try to reach a compromise between yourselves. Allow yourself to have mini breaks as well from your studies or even social media as some content online can be emotionally afflicting.
Set boundaries for yourself and everyone around you. Understand that sometimes you need your own space to take control of your own emotions. The lack of time for yourself may lead to a budding resentment towards one another that can harm your relationships.
If you feel as if you’re handling too much school work at a time, do disengage from your classes and talk to your teacher. Remember, you are not obligated to do work outside of normal hours (i.e. past midnight).
Do not overwork yourself.
Not everyone is a 24/7 well-oiled machine. If you ever feel idle during the RMO, ask yourself what’s important. Think about the value you have in your life and work towards it to find the meaning or purpose you want.
Be present and engaged with whatever you’re doing at the moment. This can help lower stress levels. Try breathing exercises or make yourself a hot cup of beverage. Cease the moment! You’re free from any form of distraction, judgement or your thoughts.
Understand.
Mental health is real and it’s a rising matter in Malaysia, especially among the young generation. It’s not an illusion fabricated in their minds nor is it a blatant cry for attention. Mental health can happen to anyone. It does not cherry pick its victims. Hence, it’s essential for all of us to continue the fight to create safe spaces and break the stigma of mental health in Malaysia. As asserted by former Deputy of Women, Family, and Community Development Minister, Hannah Yeoh,
“Mental health problems are no longer an isolated case… We need to send out the same message: that if you are suffering problems, it is okay that you are stepping out and choosing to seek help.”
Hotlines
BefriendersKL — KL: 03–7956 8145 (24 hours) //Ipoh: 05–547 7933 (4pm to 11pm) // Penang: 04–281 5161 (3pm to midnight)
Malaysia Mental Health Association — 03–2780 6803
Sources
Relate Malaysia, Dark Clouds, Blue Skies, April 17, 2017, https://relate.com.my/dark-clouds-blue-sky/
The Sun Daily, Resolving mental illness issues in Malaysia, April 18, 2018, https://www.thesundaily.my/archive/resolving-mental-illness-issues-malaysia-YUARCH541062
Lee Chong Hui, Sandhya Menon & Rebecca Rajaendram, Too many teens suffering from stress, The Star, October 12, 2018, https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/12/too-many-teens-suffering-from-stress-examoriented-culture-not-only-affecting-students-but-teachers-a/
Relate Malaysia, Yes Malaysians, All The More We Need To Talk About Depression, April 8, 2019, https://relate.com.my/yes-malaysians-all-the-more-we-need-to-talk-about-depression/?fbclid=IwAR1mHRDEY9B3AejnqRzeFZwQvobWiU--Xq_IPO2xN3POH3SpOI2VzePVUiA#_ftn1
Tasneem Nazari, Why it’s so difficult to get mental health treatment in M’sia & how to fix it, The Rakyat Post, November 8, 2019, https://www.therakyatpost.com/2019/11/08/why-its-so-difficult-to-get-mental-health-treatment-in-msia-and-how-we-can-fix-it-evergreen/
