Depression pushing teenagers to suicide

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.

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.

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. - Bernama