The mental state of Malaysian youth

Social anxiety became more prominent, especially among young people, after the Covid-19 pandemic. — Filepic

Members of Gen-Z are often referred to as the “strawberry generation”, due to the perception that they are overly sensitive or fragile, and unable to withstand mental health challenges or hardship.

The term, which originated in Taiwan, equates these young adults to strawberries grown in hothouses, which tend to bruise easily.

Similarly, those from the “strawberry generation” grow up well-protected from hardships by their parents, and as a result, find it difficult to withstand social pressure or criticism.

This sensitivity or fragility has only been exacerbated by the mental health challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the various lockdown policies implemented by governments around the world.

According to the Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index 2023, about 52.7% of those aged 15 to 30 experience mild anxiety, while 45.3% experience mild depression.

Overall, in the Healthy Mind domain of the index, youth in Malaysia were found to be “at moderate risk for facing emotional disturbance or disruptive feelings”.

In addition, the findings in the Social Support domain indicate that they “are receiving inadequate support (e.g. emotional, practical and informational) from family, friends, significant others and experts”.

Taylor’s University Masters of Clinical Psychology programme director Dr Lim Hooi Shan notes that “there is a collectivist culture in our country”, which creates the burden of social expectations placed on youth.

The pressure to meet these expectations can create stress and anxiety, particularly when individuals feel they are unable to live up to perceived standards.

The clinical psychologist, who was not involved in the research for the index, points out that many older individuals find it challenging to grasp and accept the unique circumstances and mindset of today’s youth.

This disconnect often leads to misunderstandings and a lack of support for the younger generation’s struggles.

“When we get older, we start to look at things quite differently, and we may forget that we used to be troubled by the same issues the youth is currently facing,” she points out.

When young people are labelled as weak or incapable, they often internalise these perceptions, leading to feelings of inadequacy or shame.

This stigma can discourage them from seeking help for mental health issues, as they fear judgement or further reinforcement of negative stereotypes.

“When we look into the youth, we see how they are struggling to find a foundation when they don’t have a direction in life.”

The traditional mindset of the older generation believes in the necessity of working extremely hard, often sacrificing their personal lives to prioritise their careers.

However, Dr Lim observes that the younger generation prioritises achieving a good work-life balance.

“But that doesn’t mean they don’t get their work done.

“They are just more productive in handling things within the working time, compared to the older generations,” she says.

She underscores the importance of empathy and adaptability, saying: “It’s just a very different mentality shift.

“I think more understanding and compassion towards the younger generation will help the scenario.”

Social media and social anxiety

The years of movement constraints and physical isolation has led to many youth having an even greater reliance on social media and online platforms for social interactions – an effect that still lingers on post-pandemic.

The curated nature of social media feeds often leads to unrealistic comparisons and feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out), further impacting mental well-being.

This has spread even to distressing contexts, such as announcing suicidal intentions online.

According to the Malaysian Youth Index 2020, which was referenced in the Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index 2023, one in 10 Malaysian youth have suicidal thoughts and plans.

A typical distressing post might involve a blank image with a suicide threat overlaid, expressing feelings of hopelessness such as “I don’t see any hope in life any more”.

Some individuals also go to the extent of broadcasting live videos where they exhibit signs of intending to commit suicide.

However, there is often a perception that such posts are merely attention-seeking.

Dr Lim stresses that a lot of the time, “it’s a true call for help”.

She says: “For many young people, social media is the most comfortable, and sometimes, the only accessible platform to reach out.

“On social media, these cries for help can attract attention and concern from those who come across them.”

ALSO READ: How parents can approach the topic of suicide

Despite its drawbacks, social media also serves as a valuable tool for raising awareness about mental health issues and connecting young individuals with resources and support networks.

Many young people use social media platforms to share their struggles openly, seek advice and find solidarity with others facing similar challenges.

Dr Lim also highlights the challenge of accessing traditional support systems for today’s youth, contrasting this with older generations who could rely on confiding in close friends during times of distress.

“In the past, people would just reach out to other people that they know and just tell them they feel very stressed.

“After the pandemic, a lot of people started to develop social anxiety.

“And a lot of them may not want to talk to people, because they don’t want to socialise.”

Students, in particular, have struggled with social anxiety and support.

Giving an example, she says: “Many are afraid of turning on their cameras during online classes due to self-judgement and fear of being judged.”

People with social anxiety often experience overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about being judged or scrutinised by others.

This fear can significantly impact their ability to engage in everyday activities, such as speaking in public, attending social gatherings, making calls, or even making small talk.

ALSO READ: Online therapy works for social anxiety in teens

What can be done

Based on the recommendations made in the index, Dr Lim underscores the importance of educating parents on mental health to improve youth mental health.

She notes that becoming a parent does not inherently equip individuals with the necessary skills to raise a child effectively.

Just as premarital courses are compulsory in the Muslim community, she suggests incorporating parenting skills training into such programmes to benefit all communities.

“Different ages of a child require different kinds of development and support from parents,” she explains.

Understanding these developmental stages can help parents adapt their approach, providing more nurturing care for younger children and adjusting to less controlling methods as children become adolescents.

She also points out the importance of peer support systems.

“This is the age where social interactions and relationships are crucial,” she explains, referencing American child psychoanalyst Erik Erikson’s psychosocial model of intimacy versus isolation.

By training peers to be good listeners and supporters, institutions can create a more robust mental health support network, fostering a community where students are better equipped to help one another.

In Malaysia, current laws mandate that educational institutions like colleges, universities and schools, must hire registered and licensed counsellors to support students.

However, Dr Lim points out a critical distinction in mental health care: “Mental health has two areas: day-to-day stresses and clinical conditions.

"Often, the borderline between them is quite close, and many students end up developing clinical conditions.”

She note that counsellors, while trained, may not always be equipped to recognise or treat clinical conditions.

This, she opines, underscores the need for clinical psychologists in educational settings, to ensure that both everyday stresses and more severe conditions among students are adequately addressed.

The Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index 2023 is a research collaboration between the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

The first of its kind in the world, it is meant to provide a helpful snapshot for policymakers, healthcare practitioners and other relevant stakeholders to help them understand the current mental health landscape of Malaysian youth.