LETTERS: I would like to draw attention to mental health issues among university students.
Recently, a master's student from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, was found dead at his hostel. We don't know the cause of his death.
Last year, we were shocked by the deaths of two students from Universiti Teknologi Mara due to extreme stress.
My research showed that 10 per cent of students had mental health problems in 2011. The number rose to 20 per cent in 2016, showing that the rates had doubled in less than a decade.
Further study involving 761 medical students in Malaysia showed 30 per cent had stress associated with depression and anxiety.
Adult men from the ages of 19 to 40 showed a much higher prevalence to attempted suicide.
During the pandemic last year, there were 60.3 per cent attempted suicide cases that involved adult men, while 51 per cent of 1,708 adolescents between 15 and 18 were also affected by mental health issues.
Mental health problems hinder students' learning and research output.
Online classes have increased students' screen time.
Too many assignments have restricted students' co-curricular activities.
We must do something to help students deal with mental health problems.
We could show them more compassion and understanding to alleviate the discomfort.
RAJA AUNI NADRAH RAJA AZMIR
Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times