According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015, around 30% or about 4.

2
millions of Malaysians above 16 years of age suffer from some form of mental illness.
Students experienced depression are increasing each year and this demonstrates that
depression issue is getting serious in Malaysia. For instance, based on NewStraitTimes
recent news, it is claimed that a form 3 student jumped to her death from 11th floor building in
Penang. The student was reported hours before she was due to sit for her PT3 examination.
Malaysia Education System is burdening with exams. In form 3, the students have to face
first trial exam, mid-term exam, last trial exam and the major PT3 exam. According to Jean
Piaget’s cognitive theory, during the formal operational stage which is 11 years old or above,
the students are able to think creatively and in abstract manner, but the cognitive
development of the student is impaired as the exposure to stress over a long time which
leads to depression. The students cannot develop their cognitive ability completely as they
are facing stressful environment which is known as nurture factor based on child
development’s theory. According to emotional development theory, at the age of 13 years
old or above, the child increases integration of dealing with stress (Saarni, 2011). However,
if the child is experiencing overwhelming stress, it may disturb the child’s emotional ability to
handle stress. Teachers should be more aware of the students’ condition by critically
assessing students behaviour. If the students loss interest in studies for 2 weeks, feeling
tired all the time or talking about suicide. The students might be experiencing depression.
Teachers have to counsel students who are having depression, because if it is not treated
quickly, the students will do reckless and unexpected thing. That is one of the reasons why
depression can lead to suicide.
Reference

Dermawan, A. (2018, October 1). Form Three student falls to her death. Retrieved from
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/416703/form-three-student-falls-her-
death

Izard, C. E., and Trentacosta, C. T. “Emotional Development.” Encyclopædia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 8 Jan. 2019, www.britannica.com/science/emotional-
development.

Institute for Public Health (IPH) 2015. National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 (NHMS
2015). Vol. II: Non-Communicable Diseases, Risk Factors & Other Health Problems;
2015.

Saarni C. Emotional Development in Childhood.  In: Tremblay RE, Boivin M, Peters RDeV,
eds. Lewis M, topic ed. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood
Development [online]. http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/emotions/according-
experts/emotional-development-childhood. Published September 2011. Accessed August 7,
2019.