Building young warriors
MANY of college student Jayashan Chinatamy’s friends have consistently revealed that they feel depressed, and several of them have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.
“Among my peers, there are many who have experienced suicidal ideation in the past, and a few currently experiencing periodical bouts of ideation.
“As friends, we do our best to support them during these times and always encourage them to seek professional help,” said Jayashan, 21.
The first year Bachelor of Science in Psychology student at Sunway University was among 13 students involved in the pilot Build Resilience programme, which is part of a two-pronged approach under the SJ Care Warriors initiative.
“Many students find that transitioning into young adulthood can be quite daunting and overwhelming.
“As such, I believe the skills taught in this programme can be very beneficial when applied in one’s personal life,” he said.
He added that the programme is helpful to youths, especially schoolgoers, as it tries to cultivate some fundamental aspects of emotional and mental wellbeing.
“I believe that many students are essentially unequipped to cope with the struggles that they undergo as well as lack the knowledge on how to care for their mental health and wellbeing.
“Additionally, it’s the feeling of being misunderstood and not having anyone there for you, be it for moral or emotional support or just a listening ear, that leads youth to doubt the validity of their beliefs and choices, leading to an undesirable mental state,” he added.
He also underlined the importance of psychological competencies, such as inner strength and resilience, in coping with life’s struggles and obstacles.
“Aspects such as empathy and appreciation are also important in developing quality relationships, maintaining self-compassion and being more positive overall,” said Jayashan, adding that the first step to reducing suicide among youths is to lessen the stigma that surrounds it.