18.5pc of students in Penang suffer from depression, says state Health Dept

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Mental health issues among Penang students are becoming a worrying trend, with 18.5 per cent said to be suffering from depression.

State Health Department director Datuk Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah said this was the findings of the National Youth Health Survey 2017.

He, however, said the situation was under control, but stressed on the need to take necessary action to help students.

“Mental health problem is quite serious and must be tackled because it not only affects an individual, but also the community.

“About 9.5 per cent of secondary school students admitted to contemplating suicide, while six per cent tried to do so,” he said at the Mental Health Day and the launch of the Healthy Students Programme at Universiti Teknologi Mara here yesterday.

Dr Wan Mansor said there were numerous factors which affected youth’s emotions, leading them to be involved in unhealthy activities, including Internet addiction.

“Internet addiction can influence them to commit crimes, such as cyber bullying.

“If this is not contained, it will lead to an unhealthy environment for them.”

He advised parents to seek specialists’ assistance if they find that their child exhibited symptoms of depression.

On a separate matter, he advised the public to read the ingredients of food items bought to identify the level of sodium and sugar, which could lead to serious ailments.

He was commenting on the revelation by the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) yesterday that papadom was overloaded with sodium.

In a laboratory test conducted by CAP on 11 samples of papadom, president S.M. Mohamed Idris claimed that all the samples contained more than 1,000mg/100g of sodium, and four samples contained more than 2,000mg/100g of sodium.

“The issue of food safety cannot be taken lightly. Consuming salt and sugar excessively can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and more.

“This is the case not only in Penang but all around the world.”

Papadom lovers were calling for the manufacturers to find alternatives to sodium.

Irlonna Nassitia Ibrahim, 24, said stevia had replaced sugar in food and manufacturers might be able to find a sodium substitute.

“Anchovies can give the needed salty taste without the addition of sodium. Maybe they can look at such alternatives for papadom.”

A restaurant operator who only wanted to be known as Abdullah, 43, said banning papadom was not the right move.

He proposed for the ingredients to be altered.

He said the demand for papadom at his restaurant did not decrease even though customers were talking about the issue.

“I was told about this by my customers. We accept the outcome of the research done, but we cannot stop people from buying it. Eating healthy is their choice,” he added.