UNGS 1201
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ISSUES, PRINCIPLES, AND PRACTICES
SEMESTER 1, 2020/2021
SECTION 11
NAME: NOR NAFISA HIDAYAH BINTI MOHD NAZRIN
MATRIC NO: 2018096
LECTURER: ASST PROF. DR. IRINA SAFITRI ZEN
Title: Mental Health Issues among society.
Recently, several sensitive news regarding suicide, murder of family members, domestic violence, and child abuse during the pandemic shook the entire Malaysian mass media. There are many reactions from society on the suicide issue. Some showed empathy towards the victims, while some blamed the victims for carelessly managing his emotions and only following his lust desires. This indicates that mental health issues among Malaysian citizens still taboo and become one of the challenges in our society. They still lack awareness regarding the importance of mental health; unlike other countries, the issue is gaining a place among its citizens. The government itself is sensitive to the number of suicide cases each year.
Besides, the lack of education and awareness on the issue is because of negative stigma spreading among the citizens where mental health patients tend to be labeled as crazy people. Moreover, the parents who have mentally sick children are ashamed to admit that their child is sick. They do not act fast by sending them for professional treatments. Instead, they went for traditional or spiritual therapies while assuming that evil spirits stay in their children's bodies that made their children overthink and have illusions. Hence, the mental illness issue has a negative connotation that contributes to societal stigma, resulting in this issue not being handled from the start and receiving adequate care (Norkumala Awang, 2019).
Furthermore, mental illnesses are not all about depression. The community fails to identify the differences between schizophrenia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Bipolar Disorder, Multiple Personality Disorder, and others as parts of mental illnesses that need attention. This is why suicide and perhaps murder cases increase year by year because we neglect even the tiny chances of mental illnesses as the contributor to these cases.
Luckily, in September 2015, mental health issues were recognized and included in the Sustainable Development Agenda under goal No. 3, which emphasis on ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all people of all ages (“Mental health included in the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” 2016). With the inclusion of mental health in Sustainable Development Goals, the focus on mental health issues is increasing as the objectives of the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (2013-2030) is to provide more social care services for mental health fighters, implementing strategies for the promotion and prevention in mental health and strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health (Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2020-2030, 2018).
In conclusion, the government's involvement in spreading awareness on mental health issues and the establishment of specific global frameworks by influential bodies are essential as they hold the power to educate the public. In return, Malaysian society will gradually become more aware of this matter and move on with the negative stigma of mental illnesses. We need to be reminded that mental health patients are not hungry for attention, but all they need is public support and understanding regarding their condition. The normalization of mental health awareness should become more active through public services such as Suicide Prevention Hotline, Mental Health Awareness Day, and Talk Session with Parents with a mentally ill child. Thus, the country not only becomes the first country to succeed in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030 but also succeeds in molding a caring society that helps in preventing regrettable events among beloved ones.
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References
Mental health included in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. (2016). World Health Organization. https://doi.org//entity/mental_health/SDGs/en/index.html
Norkumala Awang. (2019, November 6). Pesakit mental perlu didekati, beri sokongan. Berita Harian; Berita Harian. https://www.bharian.com.my/kolumnis/2019/11/625452/pesakit-mental-perlu-didekati-beri-sokongan
Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2020-2030. (2018). Who.int. https://www.who.int/initiatives/mental-health-action-plan-2013-2030
Abdul Gani, D. F. (2021, September 10). Hari Pencegahan Bunuh Diri Sedunia: Bekerja bersama untuk mencegahnya. Astroawani.com. https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/hari-pencegahan-bunuh-diri-sedunia-bekerja-bersama-untuk-mencegahnya-258675
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