PUTRAJAYA October 6, 2011 : Almost one-third of 6,540 secondary students surveyed in a mental health study showed a high level of depression, anxiety and stress (DAS).
The study also showed about 40% of the students interviewed found it difficult to cope with DAS, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
From the 6,450 students who took part in the study, 4.8% were experiencing severe stress; 17.1% showed signs of severe anxiety while 5.2% were severely depressed.
“The findings are a bit high (for students) although some sort of stress is expected in our lives.
“On the other hand, we are happy that we had identified the problems earlier, enabling us to draw up the intervention programme,” he said after chairing the Mental Health Promotion Advisory council meeting here yesterday.
Liow said while the study was not aimed at identifying the causes of DAS, it concluded that it was due to the surroundings, academic pressure and family problems.
He said currently 2,345 students were undergoing intervention programmes using a module developed by the ministry.
“It includes breathing exercises, praying and taking part in sports,” he said.
Liow added that the study also revealed 13.1% of the students coped well with DAS; 48.3% were average, 37.7% were below average while another 0.9% coped badly.
The six-month pilot project named Healthy Mind Programme was aimed at screening symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress among students in six secondary schools. The project ended last month.
The six schools are SMK Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi (Penang), SMK Simpang Bekoh (Malacca), Teluk Intan Science School (Perak), SM St Michael (Sabah), Gemencheh Mara Junior Science College (Negri Sembilan) and SM Jenis Kebangsaan Katholik (Selan-gor).
The students were given a set of 21 questionnaires to determine their DAS level.
Liow also said 279 teachers had been trained to identify and help students with mental health problems.
Murid-murid perlulah pandai mengawal stres dengan baik.
BalasPadamSemoga program ini boleh membantu murid-murid untuk menangani kemurungan mereka.
BalasPadamperlu bijak dalam mengawal emosi.
BalasPadamaktiviti2 riadah dan apa yang boleh menghilang stress perlu sentiasa dilakukan.
BalasPadamKalau masa student sudah stress, bila meningkat alam dewasa lagilah stress/depress. Huhu
BalasPadamRajin-rajinlah juga jumpa guru bimbingan dan kaunseling. Mungkin mereka boleh bantu atau menjadi pendengar masalah murid-murid.
BalasPadampelbagai aktiviti/program perlulah dilakukan megi mengurangkan tekanan..
BalasPadamselain itu, berjumpa dengan guru kaunseling juga merupakan cara yang baik untuk mencari penyelesaian terhadap sebarang masalah.
BalasPadamlagi teruk bila ada di kalangan pelajar yang akan cuba menangani masalah stress mereka dengan aktiviti2 yang tidak baik. rakan sebaya biasanya lebih mempengaruhi mereka dan kalau kena dengan rakan sebaya yang bermasalah disiplin, memang lagi teruk jadinya.
BalasPadampelajar yang mempunyai masalah sebegini memerlukan bimbingan orang2 sekeliling. ibubapa dan guru2 perlu peka dengan perubahan tingkahlaku mereka.
BalasPadamrasanya guru2 perlu lebih banyak dan pandai memainkan peranan dalam menangani hal ini.. atau mungkin lebih baik kaji apa punca yang membuatkan mereka rasa tertekan.
BalasPadamSebaiknya berikan lebih motivasi kepada pelajar-pelajar supaya lebih bersemangat dan tabah menghadapi dugaan.
BalasPadam