More Mental Patients ..

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=theMessenger&y=2010&dt=0109&pub=theMessenger&sec=Features&pg=fe_03.htm

By ROHANA MAN rohana.man@utusan.com.my

A report by the daily, Kosmo, dated November 27, 2008 stated that Negeri Sembilan recorded the highest number of adult patients suffering from mental problems, diabetes and obesity in the country. The latest case which happened in the state was at Kampung Batang Rokan, Gemencheh.

In the tragic incident, four lives were lost due to the cruel act of man, who is a relative of the victims. The suspect, Rashidi Ismail, 34, was arrested by police in Kuala Lumpur at 4.05pm last January 6.

Those killed were his father, sister and grandparents. A head belonging to one of the victims was taken to Shah Alam and buried at the Section 21 Muslim cemetery in Shah Alam.

Studying the case, it could be a coincident or a fact which confirmed that Negeri Sembilan has the highest number of mental patients in the country. Until today, we still do not know whether Rashidi has mental problems , is under the influence of drugs then or other reasons, but from what is told by his sister, Siti Mariam, that her brother experience two broken relationship with his fiancé a could not work, could be a reason for him to be depressed and prompted him to commit such an act against his own family members.

According to a report of a study on national health and morbidity in 2006, among the causes of mental disorder is depression. It is expected to be the main cause of mental disease by 2020.

Depression is a type of common mental disease, but not diagnosed until the patient’s condition has become serious and in need of intensive care. Almost all patients who are depressed experience low mood episodes and have no interest to carry out activities.

They are also capable of killing.

A psychiatrist from Kedah Medical Centre (KMC), Dr. Wan Mohd Rushdi Wan Mahmud, said those capable of doing cruel act were those who had been having mental problems for a long time , normally to stage when they hallucinated., including hearing voices.

He said these voices normally asked them to do things like committing suicide or to kill or injure others.

“In this case, people closest to them, like family members, such as the mother, father, siblings, cousins, grandparents and other relatives often become the victims,” he added.

He also said that those with mental disorder often treated themselves by taking certain drugs and this made their condition more worse.

“The usage of drugs, like ice, syabu, heroin and morphine, will make them imagine weird things and this condition often prompt them to act abnormal,” he added.

Considering the increase in mental cases, he suggested that treatment of mental disorder be covered by insurance.

“In our country, there is no insurance protection for treatment of mental disorder. This results in not many patients wanting to refer their cases to the psychiatrists.

“I believe if the insurance companies include treatment of mental disorder in their policy, more people will come forward to seek treatment,” he added.

Pyschology consultant Khairul Anuar Masuan admitted that more people were suffering from mental disorder and expressed the need for cooperation from all quarters to address it.

“I advise that the weekends be utilized wisely to release the tension and pressure ,” he added.

Whatever the public perception to the latest case, it is not a question of which state has the highest number mental patients. What should be done is to tackle health problems relating to mental illness.

A more proactive measure to address the problem has to be taken in view that the report in 2006 found that mental cases had increased by 10 per cent.

It also found that about three million of the 26 million people in the country had mental problems.

At international level, about 450 million people had mental problems and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), of the total, less than half were being treated.

WHO also estimated that by 2020, mental diseases are expected to represent 15 per cent of the global diseases.

Statistics for 2008 showed that 400,227 mental patients in Malaysia sought psychiatric treatment at government hospitals.

In view that mental health problems are now part of the challenges in the modern era, there’s a need for all quarters, comprising the Health Ministry, employers, university and school administrators as well as non-governmental organizations, to unite to address the problem.

Campaigns should be held to enhance public awareness on mental illnesses.

Chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) , Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, in an Utusan Malaysia report dated Nov 23 2009, expressed the need for employees with mental problems to be sent for immediate treatment.

A psychiatrist fromToronto, Canada, Dr Ted Lo said lack of education on mental disorder resulted in those having the problem to deny that they were mentally disturbed.

He also attributed the situation to social stigma.

Hence, he expressed the need for such a stigma and prejudice against those with mental problems be eradicated so that more people with the problem would seek treatment.

In conclusion, the tragedy involving loss of lives, amuk and suicide are bitter reminders caused by a disease which can be treated. Measures to address the problem should not be neglected in our efforts to achieve a developed country status by 2020.