Compassion and counselling needed
Important for Covid-19 patients, family to have positive emotional support
KLANG: It is not uncommon for people to experience shock, disbelief, depression and despondency when confronted with Covid-19.
Diana Phang, 51, experienced this gamut of emotions when her mother Khong Wah Koon, 77, was confirmed positive two months ago.
Realising that Khong was going through acute depression and worrying that she and the rest of the family might be infected too, Phang, who manages a business with her husband, went through an emotionally tough time.
“Mother was admitted to the intensive care unit of Hospital Sungai Buloh. She felt despondent due to the isolation.
“She gave up hope and stopped fighting. At one point she told me over the phone that she wanted to die as she was fed up with the pain and the tubes running all over her body,” said Phang, adding that her mother was healthy and strong before she contracted Covid-19.
After 10 days in hospital, Khong fell into a coma and passed away.
What followed, said Phang, was more heartache as the family was unable to see their mother one last time or conduct any final rites before her remains were cremated a few hours after her death.
Sabai assemblyman Kamache Doray Rajoo, 51, who was admitted with her son B. Vinothan, 19, at Hospital Bentong in Pahang after both of them tested positive recently, recalled that she was frightened and felt down worrying about her son as well as wondering if both of them would be able to overcome the infection.
“There were no family visits and not knowing what happened to those who had had close contact with me prior to my admission also troubled me.
“The worst was when I saw my son at the Covid-19 ward as well. I felt depressed,” she said.
As for office administrator Megala Govindarajoo, it was a nightmare for her when her 15-year-old son came down with Covid-19.
The 45-year-old said she had taken Hariee to a private hospital here for an MRI after he complained of severe shoulder pain.
The MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan showed a growth in the shoulder and bone cancer was suspected.
However, after a second consultation at University Malaya Medical Centre, the tumour was found to be benign and surgical removal was scheduled for Jan 21.
“He was admitted on Jan 20 and in the evening, the doctor called to say my son was Covid-19-positive.’’
Megala said she went through an emotional rollercoaster ride during the trying period.
“When they said it was cancer, I was depressed and fearful but when told it wasn’t, I was relieved and happy. Then came the Covid-19 result.
“The depression and fear returned,’’ said Megala.
Recently, there was some grim news about Covid-19 patients.
A 66-year-old man who had tested positive was found dead at his home in Selangor with a slash wound to his throat.
Police ruled out foul play and said that according to the victim’s wife, he had complained about being in pain and was depressed after he was infected.
Last October, a Covid-19 patient aged 63 recovered but died after falling from a hospital in Kota Kinabalu the night before she was to be discharged.
Malaysian Mental Health Association president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj said that frontline medical staff conducting the tests or relaying the news of positive results must have basic counselling skills.
“Information must be provided and it’s very important to tell infected patients that being Covid-19positive does not mean certain death,’’ he said.
He added that the information relayed must encompass every detail about the infection, its treatment as well as what the patients could do to help themselves.
“They must also be told that the death rate in Malaysia, in ratio to the number of positive cases, is rather low in comparison to other countries,” he said.
“Basic counselling is provided with a diagnosis is not new in Malaysia as it is practised when patients are told they are terminally ill or have a malignancy or are HIVpositive.
“The same method must be used in a pandemic situation such as the current Covid-19 crisis,” Dr Mohanraj said.
He added that being anxious, depressed or worrying about the unknown could all happen and if a Covid-19 patient had pre-existing psychological conditions, it could make matters worse.
He noted that patients must be constantly reminded of the high number of cases that successfully beat the infection as a mode of assurance.
“It is important to maintain your mental health while recovering from Covid-19.
“Undue stress can affect your physical health too and you might take longer to recover from Covid19 if you are psychologically affected,” explained Dr Mohanraj.
He added that one way of staying mentally healthy was to focus on things one had control of as a patient.
“Feeling sorry for yourself or regretting the situation you are in will not be helpful.
“The focus should be on two main things; taking care of yourself and preventing infection to others around you,” he said.
As for those with family members battling Covid-19, Dr Mohanraj said it was important for them to not sink into helplessness.
“While you feel responsible to support a family member with Covid-19, remember not to let the situation take over your life.
“You need to take care of your own needs, like getting adequate rest and not being overwhelmed by stress, which can impact and influence your response to the patient,’’ he advised.
While showing sympathy to their loved ones, said Dr Mohanraj, family members must be very careful to not disempower the person by being over-involved or overprotective.