3rd Entry - Mental health

Over the course of my 19 years on this planet, I've seen friends hide their melancholy and anxiety. They come to school every day with smiles on their faces, even though they are constantly harming themselves. They have the strength to get out of bed every day for the remainder of the year despite contemplating death. Though they have sunk deep into melancholy and may have even attempted suicide, they are still looking for the will to live and the courage to interact with the people in their lives. It's not a piece of cake.

Since we were in elementary school, I have kept in touch with the same friend for about 12 years. She was a brilliant girl indeed. The classroom lightens up when she enters the room. She has always been an inspiration to me because of her drive, intelligence, humour, and generosity. All through elementary school, I was always with her.

We stopped talking to each other when we graduated from elementary school. She was accepted to a prestigious boarding school that, as we all know, places a high value on academics and consistently ranks among the top five institutions in Malaysia in terms of students' performance on the SPM. My best friend had hoped to one day become a heart surgeon, and I have encouraged and prayed for her on her path there. All through our four years of high school, we barely knew each other. It took a full calendar year after she graduated from high school before she felt comfortable enough to talk to me.

She struggled with anorexia, bulimia, and body dysmorphia. She first noticed it during form 3 of secondary school, and it became very severe throughout form 5, the SPM year. She refused to eat, sleep, and do anything than study. She only slept two hours a night and survived on caffeine to function. She developed tuberculosis because she ate only one meal a day, sometimes twice a day, and then made herself vomit (TB). TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although the lungs are the most common site of infection, the TB bacterium can also infect the kidney, spine, and brain. The strain became too much for her, and she passed out. It wasn't until she passed out that anybody noticed her unusual health, and she was subsequently hospitalised for two weeks. The whole idea that her friends and family could be so oblivious to the severity of her situation shocked me when I first heard the story. Bone could be seen through her skin. She had a tough time on her own, neglecting her body's nutritional demands by not eating enough fat and protein, and putting her academic success ahead of her own health.

What I want to stress is that we are all going through our own journeys in relative silence. The least we can do as a business and as people is to be available for them whenever they need us. Individuals are more likely to know they have someone to turn to in times of need if they are shown that you care, that you are available, and that there are people who care about their being.

Keep in mind that many people could use your support and encouragement as they deal with mental health issues, and take the time to let your loved ones know that you are there for them whenever they need to talk about anything—a bad day at work, a strained relationship, a frustrating boss, or even a health issue. Taking care of oneself is crucial, but we may need a reminder from the outside world to do so. I was able to unwind after a long day thanks to a friend's simple gesture of checking in with me and encouraging me to sit down and start reading a book I had been intending to get to for a while. On top of that, I made sure my other friends were okay by asking how they were doing.

If you have many friends who are also struggling with mental health concerns, you know how difficult it can be to keep your worries at bay on a daily basis. Their experiences will forever have an impact on us, but we must be careful to avoid becoming downtrodden by their plight. It's healthy to put yourself first sometimes. 

To put it simply, YOU are the most crucial factor in this world. You must prioritise your own well-being. It is OK to go away from the situation if it becomes too much. We must be there for them through the highs and lows of life.

Depression is preventable. First, exercise helps your mind and spirit. Exercising raises core temperature and relaxes the nervous system. It boosts endorphins and decreases immune system chemicals that may worsen depression. Second, stop using social media. Social media addiction can increase depression and self-esteem. Social media addiction is real, yet it's necessary for personal and professional interactions. This is how we plan events, share news, and celebrate. Limiting social media use may help prevent depression. This may be done by using website-blocking extensions, just using social media for a reason, and not signing on many times a day just to have something to do. Finally, good sleep is essential for mental and physical health. Insomniacs are 10 times more likely to get sad, according to the National Sleep Foundation.