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

Although one woman is making an effort to provide mental health resources via her Instagram page, the country’s strategy on the issue is said to be lacking

Many of the suicides reported in Malaysia last year were brought on by pressures related to debt, followed by family problems and marital issues

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Malaysians carry shopping bags full of supplies as they walk down a deserted road amid the country’s lockdown. Photo: DPA

Published: 9:31pm, 12 Feb 2021Updated: 11:21pm, 12 Feb 2021

For psychology graduate Roshinee Mookiah, Malaysia’s first coronavirus lockdown last year was a chance to provide mental health resources for ordinary people via social media. Her Instagram page, @cukup.club, shared beautifully designed infographics on how to uplift one’s mood and sleep better, and also dispensed tips on how to adjust to working from home.

“We went into the first movement control order in March 2020 under the assumption that it was only for two weeks, but people were anxious and unsure because of this whole unknown element of the coronavirus,” the 27-year-old Roshinee said of the full lockdown.

The lockdown, which saw a ban on travel, gatherings and economic activity, ended up lasting three months. It was subsequently relaxed to a “recovery movement control order” of less strict limitations – until January 2021, when cases started to skyrocket and a second lockdown was put in place.

“This whole coronavirus period has seen so much anxiety and lack of clarity about the future,” Roshinee said. “The pandemic and lockdown have impacted mental health severely, with unpredictability about how to lead our lives, unemployment and grieving of our ‘normal’ pre-pandemic lives just piling on this stress. So when I posted about affordable mental health services in Malaysia, the response was really positive.”

The cukup.club Instagram page. Photo: Instagram

Like in many other countries, the Covid-19 pandemic has seen mental health issues climb in Malaysia. In November, police reported that 266 people had committed suicide during the various forms of lockdowns from March 19 through October 30.