The cane or the hand. Those are the bitter promises that linger in the minds of most Asian children when it comes to punishment. In the majority of Asian countries, caning and whacking are common tools for parents to curb their child’s unfavorable behaviors. “The threat of punishment scares them from doing bad things,” is a mindset these parents and to some extent those in power have. Here in Malaysia, we have extended this punitive mindset when it comes to suicide prevention. Section 309 in Malaysia’s penal code dictates that whoever caught attempting suicide will be imprisoned, for a term that may last up to a year or be fined or both.
While some may argue that the cane is a necessary evil that acts as a deterrent, it is an understatement to say that this is not the mindset to have when it comes to suicide prevention. To be blunt, if one was at the point of feeling a never-ending sense of hopelessness and despair, a fine and a jail sentence would not be deterring in the slightest; it could push one to extreme measures to avoid the punishments.
Let me paint you this picture; imagine you are a working adult who is unemployed and has survived a suicide attempt. After the extremely difficult and ordeal, you think that perhaps, it is time to seek and obtain the professional help you deserve? But instead of proper psychiatric care, the government hands you a costly fine, for which if you can’t pay for, will land you with jail time. The scenario sounds unbelievably grotesque but is the reality for the 28-year-old unemployed man who survived a suicide attempt in early August of 2020 and is now facing a RM3000 fine or 3 months in jail for his ‘crime’.
It has been mentioned by Minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong in an article published by The Star in December of 2019, that amendments towards decriminalizing suicide would be legislated sometime in mid-2020. Given what a whirlwind this year has been, it is understandable that some legislation has been pushed back. However, we Malaysians must understand why working towards decriminalizing suicide is an urgent and pressing matter.
According to the ‘Suicide in the World: Global Health Estimates’, a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, suicide rates in Malaysia in 2016 were at a staggering 8.7 per 100,000 inhabitants. If these rates weren’t alarming enough, WHO also reported that there is a likely chance that the suicides rates are higher than what has been reported. This was due to “data quality issues” in the Malaysian death registration, inferring that there may have been underreporting of the actual figures. With these hard-hitting facts and numbers, it is hard to deny that suicide is a prevalent issue in our country and that the threat of punishment is not working.
I know some of you may be asking, in true Malaysian fashion, “But, why-lah do that to yourself?” Well, there are many reasons; unaddressed and untreated mental health disorders, abusive households, stresses from studies and/or work, sexual abuse, traumatic experiences, and the list goes on and on. The world is bleak enough with current issues raging around us. Without the proper help, stress levels can rise quickly; leaving one struggling for room to breathe.
Recently, an article by the Rakyat Post in August of 2020, reported that there had been an increase in suicide rates during the Movement Control Order (MCO) citing reasons such as mental illnesses, failed relationships, and financial distress as well as confinement. In terms of domestic abuse, victims were forced to confine themselves with their abuser(s) and remain in a harmful environment. The Malaysian government revealed that its welfare hotline saw a 57 percent increase in calls concerning domestic violence during the MCO. I am sure none of us can forget that insensitive statement made by the Ministry of Women and Family suggesting that a Doremon voice is all that is needed to stop domestic violence. It is these types of comments that invalidate an individual’s struggles and force them to isolate themselves.
“Okay but I’m fine, so why don’t you just get over it?” is another reaction that most of those in dire need of care are usually met with. These types of reactions completely dismiss the emotional hurdles that one had to go through to vocalize and acknowledge their struggles. The backward and unhealthy understanding of mental health in our country has been a barrier; preventing the government from taking the crucial steps needed to provide sufficient psychiatric care that should be available to all Malaysians. Education at all levels, especially in areas regarding emotional intelligence, is extremely vital in dismantling the degrading stereotypes and beliefs surrounding mental health. The Malaysian education system has always highlighted the importance of academic success rather than the importance of self-awareness and self-management. These skills enable one to be more understanding and empathetic towards others and themselves. With more emotionally-attuned individuals, a more compassionate society will come to fruition; which means having fewer individuals in power who genuinely believe that using a Doremon voice can avoid domestic abuse.
To conclude, it has been long overdue for Malaysia to finally step up and treat mental health as a serious health issue and forgo the harmful stigma surrounding it. This infectious stigma supports the narrative that labels suicide as a criminal offense and not what it truly is: a cry for help.