Q: Share with us how your research tackles mental health among the urban poor.
A: My current research assesses the self-perceived quality of life and mental health, including depression, anxiety, and stress, among the adult population of the PPR Sri Pantai community. Based on the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among different people, their quality of life has been affected. What makes things worse is that the vulnerability of the urban poor is determined by socioeconomic and environmental factors.
When emotional distress affects the quality of life, it could culminate into self-harm and debilitating ailments. As a Public Health physician, I felt that there was an unmet need to study the dynamics between mental health and quality of life to identify the possible factors that could improve the health of the underprivileged.
For this research, we went through a process to gather the needs and requirements of the community aside from providing those that need help by referring them to the right personnel. We also have undergraduates to help us with the research. Recently, my undergraduate students and I had our paper conditionally accepted by a journal publication which we’re now trying to publish the data collected so far.
In the past, when done physically, the students collected and analysed the data and later presented it to the community during an on-ground health awareness day for the members of the community which includes presentations of their findings, health screenings, and also demonstrations.
Q: What are the direct impacts COVID-19 has on the urban poor?
A: Because of the different lockdowns and losing economic independence, the urban poor communities have been pushed further into poverty. If you look at the current situation, their income is much lower than the median wage of RM4580 per household.
Aside from the responsibilities at home including care for younger children, aging parents, and ailing family members, some have completely lost their jobs causing them to struggle in making ends meet. In fact, UNICEF’s Families on the Edge survey showed many of these families facing mental health problems because of uncertain economic and financial losses faced. Naturally, health doesn’t remain a priority anymore because they’ve to look into all these areas.
Plus, the problem with mental health is that the symptoms aren’t obvious and it’s often tricky to identify them. When a person has a wound or a body part cut off, we know that there’s a problem. If a person has crutches, we know the person is unable to walk. Oftentimes people don’t realise they’re suffering from mental health issues because it’s not something tangible. Even if they do, it’s put in the back burner and not prioritised. Unfortunately, this affects their quality of life.
Q: So how can we help them to understand the importance of prioritising mental health when they’re struggling so much to survive?
A: Mental health is something that makes us. So, it’s important to generate awareness and share valuable information that’s scientific and sound for any community. But there needs to be a tailored-approach using understandable and feasible language that meets the particular needs of that community as each of us have very different needs — even you and me!
The other aspect is linkages.
What should I do about it? Who should I go to for help? Linking communities to NGOs to provide support for mental health is of vital importance.
Through our research, we’re assessing the problems faced and then creating awareness on them so they know the issues as well as the factors influencing their condition.
This must be a multi-disciplinary approach — it isn’t just the problem of governments, healthcare industries, and NGOs, but also our responsibility to coordinate efforts on linkages and references.
Lastly, we must also increase awareness of their social networks. In these communities, there are usually heads or leaders and they become our gateway to help the community.
We’re trying to network with them to strike the awareness of mental health so that we can manage mental health issues earlier and better. In other words, managing emotions and building resilience is something we’re looking at.