Recently the alarming news about the rising suicide death in my country Malaysia due to suicide has hit 468 cases in the first 5 months in 2021.
Statistic shows the current cases is up from an annual total of 631 cases in 2020 and 609 in 2019.
(Malaysia has a total population of 33 million.)
This shows the state of the mind of some people. People getting depress from forced into adapting to the new norm narrated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Geraldine Tan, director and principal psychologist at private clinic The Therapy Room in Singapore describe this as Pandemic fatigue.
Pandemic fatigue is “a feeling of exhaustion from the changes that the pandemic has brought about, as well as feeling a sense of dread and irritation with the constant news of the pandemic”.
Its mentally draining in the face of the uncertainty, anxiety and fear.
This new norm confine a people to their homes, instead of the freedom once enjoyed.
Some may feel like a trapped bird in a cage. We are somehow lucky that we have the internet. So we still can go to the web and connect with other people. We can still see and talk to them except in physical contact.
Our once favourite cafe, restaurants and malls are force to close to curb the spread of the virus.
Will we ever get back to normal?
Retail businesses like this go bust as the uncertainty still looms ahead as the government effort to innoculate as many people to reach herd immunity.
Yes, the covid 19 ordeal is a polarising subject. As some theorist conspirator tells of a hidden agenda while some believe it is a disease that could wipe out hundred of thousands of people.
Personally, I have no intention to pick whom to trust and would like to move forward with my life.
In Singapore, the government has decided to an alternative approach in handling the crises. Instead of responding by closing the businesses due to the fear of the spread, they have decided to treat the virus as something that we have to get use to it.
The Covid virus like any other flu virus will only mutate over time in order to survive. So, perhaps getting an annual vaccination shot to boost the body immune system may prevent those infected with major health complication.
I believe our ancestors have battle such deadly pandemic before and survived. Our trust lies in our first line of defence which is our body immune system. We only hope it can adapt quickly to this contagious virus and overcome its attack.
Will it work?
Nothing is certain for now, only time will tell.
