FENOMENA KEMURUNGAN DI MALAYSIA DALAM ERA PANDEMIK COVID-19 [THE PHENOMENON OF DEPRESSION IN MALAYSIA IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ERA]

Abstract

Abstrak: Artikel ini mengupas permasalahan kemurungan yang menjadi salah satu punca utama berlakunya gejala bunuh diri di era pandemik ini. Rakyat Malaysia adalah komuniti yang turut terjebak dengan gejala ini.  Kebanyakan mereka terkesan dari sudut emosi seperti ketakutan, isolasi, kebimbangan serta depresi akibat berlaku tekanan dan perubahan dalam norma kehidupan mereka.  Kaedah analisis kandungan telah digunakan bagi menghuraikan gejala kemurungan dalam era pandemik COVID-19.  Artikel ini telah  mendapati bahawa perubahan norma kehidupan dan pelbagai kekangan yang dihadapi sepanjang tempoh penularan wabak telah mengundang peningkatan masalah kesihatan mental dan kemurungan dalam kalangan masyarakat.  Melalui kupasan artikel ini, ia diharap dapat mendorong minda masyarakat agar lebih terbuka dan berlapang dada dalam menjalani kehidupan norma baharu di samping lebih berwaspada terhadap gejala kemurungan yang kian menular. 

Abstract: This article discusses the problem of depression which is one of the main causes of suicide in this pandemic era. Malaysians are communities that are also stuck with this symptom.  Most of them are emotionally affected by such emotions as fear, isolation, anxiety and depression as a result of stress and changes in their life norms.  Content analysis methods have been used to describe the symptoms of depression in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This article has found that the changing norms of life and the various constraints faced during the pandemic period have led to an increase in mental health problems and depression in the community.  Through this article, it is hoped that it will encourage the public's mind to be more open in living a new normal life while being more alert to the symptoms of depression.