Mental health problems manifest in individuals but point to bigger systemic problems.

Help seeking behaviors have increased over the years, and certainly accelerated by COVID-19 pandemic. As a mental health professional, it’s thrilling to witness the growing receptivity of mental health in the public. Topics related to mental health are gaining more attention in the various fields such as workplace, schools, parenting, personal finance and many more. More people are interested in learning about mental health and how it affects our daily living. A couple of weeks ago, I was a panelist for a mental health webinar and was grateful to be able to gather with different professionals to discuss about the prevalence of mental health issues. Consistent with the increase in help-seeking intentions, seeking for professional help was one of the most popular suggestions for individuals struggling with mental health difficulties.

The rising demand also expanded the access of all kinds of mental health services.

No doubt we’ve come a long way to be open in conversing about mental health and advocate for loved ones to seek for mental health services, but have we considered the systemic problems that contribute or exacerbate psychological distresses? Humans are social creatures; we rely on social interactions and relationships to thrive and survive in this world. As the various relationships between individuals and groups increase and become more complex, they begin to set limits, orders, and systems (which will be used interchangeably in this article) in the society. Examples of social orders include customs, family, marriage, values and norms. Take new parents welcoming their first child, for instance – Parents will need to set family rules to help their child understand what behaviors are acceptable or not. Nevertheless, families will need to revisit these rules every now and then to adjust to the different stages in a family life cycle and the ever changing times.

Parenting styles also have to change when children grow up over the years.

Today’s complex socio-political, cultural and economic reality are also formed in similar fashion like how parents set rules in their respective homes. Our ability to live with one another harmoniously are often guided by social orders formed by individuals to create overall stability and make a society functional. For example, there is a system of free public education and health care in Malaysia. Whilst many systems and structures in the country have been beneficial to the society, others have become obsolete thus unintentionally incurring harm to individuals and consequently to the society. More specifically, many laws in Malaysia are now obsolete and inadequate to keep up with changing times. Despite the growing recognition for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, same-sex sexual activities are still criminalised in Malaysia. The lack of recognition and protection towards the LGBTQ+ community result in them being subjected to abuse, discriminations, arrest under unjust laws. Needless to say, they become at a higher risk of experiencing poor mental health because their rights for services are denied in addition to being perceived as defying gender norms. This is just one illustration on how rigid social structures can affect a person’s overall wellbeing adversely. Social orders and laws have to be reviewed from time to time to stay relevant in a fast paced world.

Mental health problems may be an individual struggle, but it is everyone’s responsibility to advocate for systemic changes in the country. Suggesting loved ones to seek for professional help is a good step forward. We also have to begin perceiving individuals in relation to the multi-layered relationships and surrounding systems, to have a clearer understanding that individual distress is interdependent with other social systems. A practical way to start is by listening and be very curious about the multifaceted distress/difficulties of our loved ones, instead of being quick to help solve their problems.

If you’re up for more thinking, here are more questions to ponder about:

1. What are some unspoken rules / common sense that you practice but others don’t?

2. What are some systemic problems and structural challenges in your home country affects / maintains your everyday living?

3. What are some information you’ve learned recently that expanded your way of thinking or challenged your assumptions of the world?