VYONNE scrapbook (2)

DE 013 2021/2022
WRITING TASK: A SCRAPBOOK

THEME: Health
TOPIC: Mental Health During Covid-19 Pandemic
ISSUE: Escalating Progression of Mental Health Disorders during Covid-19
Pandemic

GROUP MEMBERS: MATRIC NO. CLASS
1. VYONNE TAN SHEN JIE MS2116174945 L1S13
2. RAZIQAH’AFIFAH BINTI SULAIMAN MS2116174873
3. NURUL AMIRA BINTI MOHD AMIN MS2116175006
4. MOHAMMAD FARIS BIN AZMAN MS2116175238

LECTURER: MS HALINA BINTI MOHAMED YUSOF
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 10 OCTOBER 2021

PART 1:Background Information

Our emotional, psychological and social well-being all
contribute to our mental health. It has an impact on how we
think, feel, and act. It also influences how we deal with stress,
interacts with others, and make decisions. Mental health is
essential at all stages of life, from childhood to adolescence to
adulthood.

If one has mental health problems throughout life, their thinking,
mood, and behavior may be affected. Miscellaneous factors
play a role in mental health issues, including:

● Biological factors such as genes and brain chemistry
● Trauma or abuse
● Family history of mental health issues

Mental health disorders are a broad category of mental health
conditions. There are numerous mental disorders, each with its
own set of symptoms. They are generally distinguished by a
combination of abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions,
behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Depression, bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, and developmental
disorders such as autism are all varieties of mental health
disorders.

According to a new WHO survey, the COVID-19 pandemic has
disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93 percent
of countries worldwide, while demand for mental health is
increasing. The survey of 130 countries provides the first global
data demonstrating the devastating impact of COVID-19 on
access to mental health services, emphasizing the critical need
for increased funding. The survey was released ahead of
WHO’s Big Event for Mental Health on 10 October, a global
online advocacy event that will bring together world leaders,
celebrities, and advocates to call for increased mental health
investments in the aftermath of COVID-19. WHO had
previously pointed to chronic mental health underfunding:
before the pandemic countries had been spending less than
2% on mental health and struggling to satisfy the demands of
their population.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the
World Health Organization, noted that good mental health is
essential to the general health and well-being of the individual.
“COVID-19 interrupted essential services of mental health
around the world when they were most needed. World leaders
must move quickly and determinedly to invest more in mental
health saving programs — during and beyond the pandemic.”

What is the situation for Malaysia?

Coronavirus Malaysia: mental health issues surge,
but where is government’s response?

In November, police reported that 266 people had committed suicide
during the various forms of lockdowns from March 19 through October
30 2020. According to news reports, 25 per cent of the suicides were
brought on by pressures related to debt, followed by family problems
and marital issues.
In a study conducted by the Malaysian centrist think tank The
Centre, many people reported worsening mental health brought on by
their living conditions, such as living alone.
(Source: scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3121595/
coronavirus-malaysia-mental-health-issues-surge-where)

Here are the statistics for Malaysia. A study of 1,163 respondents by
Universiti Malaya indicated a consistent increase in the prevalence
of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms across four different
movement control orders (MCO) in Malaysia. The highest rate of
depressive and anxiety symptom was recorded at 59.2 percent and
55.1 percent respectively, between August and September 2020.
The Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) recorded a more
than two-fold increase in people seeking help related to stress
throughout 2020 compared to 2019. In 2020, one in three calls that
Befrienders received were suicidal in nature, as compared to one
out of 10 calls in 2018. The government’s psychosocial hotline
recorded 37,709 calls between April and September 2020, half of
them related to emotional distress worsened by the pandemic and
MCO. These statistics are sobering and indicate a deterioration of
mental health over time. (Source: malaysiakini.com/columns/574217)

The aim of this Scrapbook is thus to highlight the escalating
progression of Mental Health Disorders of Malaysians during
Covid-19 Pandemic and to offer solutions and suggestions
which hopefully could curb this situation from worsening.

PART 2: Personal Responses to the issue:

(a)Opinions / Reactions / Commentary / Comparison
/ Cause and effects

NewStraitsTime, Saturday, 26 June 2021, 2:24pm

MoH received over 100k calls seeking

emotional support since January

For the first six months of the year, the Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham
Abdullah reveals that 122,328 calls were received by MOH’s Psychosocial Support Helpline.
From January 1 to June 18, 109,806 calls were recorded, with 89.4 percent of them being
related to psychosocial issues as a result of various social problems caused by the Covid-19
pandemic.
“Not just public sector professionals and health workers or frontliners are affected by stress,
but other segments within the society are also experiencing stress.”
The helpline that was launched on March 25, 2020, and operated by MOH psychology
consultants and volunteer psychology officers from other organizations and NGOs found that
most calls needed emotional support and counseling.
Stress becomes an issue when it extends or impairs the daily functions of an individual. Get
a psychiatric assessment if that happens immediately.

It is worth noting that mental health is as vital as physical health and prevention at an
early stage can help.

Personal response

According to this article, many people suffered from mental illnesses
during the pandemic, and the majority of us sought professional help.
The majority of us are stressed and in need of emotional support.
This is the number of people who seek assistance; however, what
about those who do not? The figures are insane! We believe that the
amount will continue to rise because the MCO has been in effect
since June; COVID-19 cases continue to rise, and we believe that this
MCO will not be terminated any time soon. As a result, we must
recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on mental
health.

(Source: https://www.nst.com.my/amp/news/nation/2021/06/702450/moh-received-over-
100k-calls-seeking-emotional-support-january)