High suicide rate: Allow counselling centres to operate, urges Teresa Kok

 

Counselling centres should be allowed to operate with strict SOPs during the movement control order (MCO) amid concerns over the high suicide rate recently, said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

“While the government is trying to reduce the infectivity of Covid-19 and prevent more people from contracting Covid by imposing MCO and enhanced MCO in Selangor and various states in Malaysia, it is high time the government look seriously into the current hikes in mental illnesses and suicide rates in an urgent manner.

“It is high time the government allows more counselling centres to operate by following strict SOPs. Letters of approval should be given to those who are involved in counselling programmes.

“At the moment, many counselling centres are forced to close as they are not considered as an essential service,” Kok (above) said in a statement today.

On July 1, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Abd Jalil Hassan said an average of two suicide cases a day have been recorded between 2019 and May this year.

He said there were 609 suicide incidents in 2019, 631 recorded last year and 468 cases between January and May this year.

Kok said this revelation had encouraged more companies, NGOs and individuals to get involved in providing food aid to those who require help.

“However, no matter how much the government, elected representatives and the private sector try to feed the poor, they are unable to help to reduce mental stress suffered by the many.

“The acts of food charity won’t effectively reduce suicide rates in the country. The focus must be towards mental health too,” she said.

The lawmaker also urged the government to reopen public parks as studies have shown that physical activity plays an important role in preventing suicidal thoughts and behaviours in people.

“It is important for the government to open up parks to allow people who are under tremendous mental stress during the pandemic to exercise and to release stress under strict SOPs,” she said.

The government needs to also look at the health of the nation in a comprehensive and holistic manner while we are battling with the Covid-19 pandemic, Kok added.

This includes finding ways to deal with the increasing suicide rate and mental health issues.

“Opening up counselling centres and community parks are few of the effective ways to prevent mental problems and suicide rates,” she said. - Mkini