Mental health issues, stress behind the recent tragic crimes?

SHAH ALAM – The surge in crime rates may be attributed to a combination of factors, ranging from mental health issues to socio-economic stressors.

KPJ Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital Clinical Psychologist Ummu Nazra Nadzam said individuals who deal with financial difficulties, social and economic challenges as well as health-related concerns might find themselves more susceptible to various mental health issues.

Ummu pointed out that mental health problems such as depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety could act as underlying factors that exacerbated the impact of additional stressors.

"There are several different aspects that contribute to whatever they are dealing with namely, financial, social economy, health aspects.

"First contributing factors would be the mental health issues, underlined issues like depression, ADHD and anxiety.

Ummu said the existing mental health conditions with external stressors, such as the high cost of living, post-pandemic stress, work-related pressures and even traffic congestion could lead individuals to resort to harmful coping mechanisms including substance abuse and detachment from reality.

"This is where will lead people will use substances, detach from reality and murder people, anger issues, aggressive towards others," she told Sinar Daily.

"We see this as a secondary emotion, not a primary emotion. Primary emotions like sadness and anger often stem from frustration, jealousy or embarrassment.

"When individuals experience these primary emotions and add on additional stressors, it becomes a worrying situation," Ummu said.

The psychologist said the escalation from primary emotions to secondary emotions, such as anger might manifest in aggressive behaviour which leads to crimes, violence and other destructive actions.

Therefore, Ummu emphasised that understanding and addressing mental health issues were crucial in preventing such outcomes.

Meanwhile, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Psychology counselling expert Associate Professor Dr Fauziah Mohd Sa'ad echoed these sentiments and stressed the need for a comprehensive analysis of individual cases to identify specific sources of influence on criminal behaviour.

Fauziah acknowledged the multifaceted nature of the issue and attributed the increase in gruesome crimes to socioeconomic stressors, mental health challenges and broader societal issues.

"The high cost of living, post-pandemic stress, work-related pressures and traffic congestion collectively contribute to heightened stress levels.

"These factors can potentially impact individuals' mental well-being and behaviour, paving the way for an increase in crime rates," said Ummu.

Last month, there had been an increase in the crime rates which raised concerns among the community in Malaysia.

for all especially in rural areas, addressing work-life balance in the office and increasing awareness play a crucial role in combatting mental health.