The Indonesian Health Ministry, along with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and law enforcement officers, are establishing a task force to address bullying in the Specialist Doctor Education Program (PPDS) following the case of Dr. Aulia Risma Lestari in Semarang. The task force aims to improve the efficiency of identifying bullying cases and create a stronger deterrent effect. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the initiative will be implemented systematically across all teaching hospitals and medical faculties throughout Indonesia, emphasizing the need for empathy among specialist doctors. He encouraged PPDS students to report instances of bullying directly to the Health Ministry and advised seniors to break the chain of bullying, which can have a detrimental effect on their juniors' mental well-being while they care for patients.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/340742/minister-proposes-task-force-to-combat-bullying-in-doctors-educationThe number of suicides among students in Kota has decreased by 38% from 24 cases in 2023 to 17 cases last year. However, this decline poses a challenge for counsellors and the district administration as they struggle to address the issue. To support those in need, helplines such as the Vandrevala Foundation (9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.com) and TISS iCall (022-25521111) are available to provide assistance.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kota-suicide-jee-exams-beyond-me-2nd-suicide-in-24-hours-in-coaching-hub-kota-7434804#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscrollDr Judith Locke, a clinical psychologist, has warned that overprotective parenting in Australia is contributing to an epidemic of anxiety among young people. She claims that parents who excessively worry about their children's well-being are inadvertently transforming normal stress levels into clinical anxiety. Dr Locke made her comments on the TV show The Project, highlighting the growing mental health crisis affecting Australian youth.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14266019/Anxiety-Australia-children-parent-advice-psychologist.htmlA recent report found that 55% of Britons who find themselves in a caregiving role are experiencing depression and 78% anxious thoughts due to secondary trauma, which occurs when one feels another person's trauma as their own. This phenomenon is seen in many cases where individuals care for someone struggling with mental health issues, such as a partner battling depression or a parent worrying about their child's impulsive behavior. The rise in mental health issues, including claims for mental health benefits in the UK tripling to 400 per day since the pandemic, suggests that these cases of secondary trauma are likely to increase.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14255717/Mum-obsessive-world-SOPHIE-SCOTT-relatives-battling-crippling-anxiety.htmlAccording to experts, individuals who frequently decline social invitations with excuses such as being "swamped" or "too busy with work" may be hiding signs of a lonely mental health crisis. Other potential indicators include skipping meals, experiencing extreme energy swings, using self-deprecating humor, and unexplained bouts of illness. Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, a psychiatry professor at the University of Texas Southwest Medical School in Dallas, notes that physical symptoms are common in depression, suggesting that individuals may be struggling with their mental health despite appearing to be physically healthy.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14245505/Subtle-signs-partner-secretly-miserable.htmlThe Pakistani government held a conference on mental health, highlighting the nation's growing crisis due to traumas such as wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. Renowned psychiatrist Prof Saeed Farooq noted that around 4% of Islamabad's population, approximately 10,000 residents, suffer from severe mental health conditions like schizophrenia. The lack of a national mental health policy and inadequate resources are exacerbating the issue, with experts calling for immediate action to address these gaps and ensure equitable access to mental health services across the country.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1268511-ahsan-iqbal-vows-to-implement-national-mental-health-policyPatrick Egan, a 39-year-old man accused of attacking a reporter in Grand Junction, Colorado, has been charged with assault and bias-motivated crime. According to his lawyer Ruth Swift, Egan has had ongoing mental health issues for about two decades and is currently receiving treatment. The attack occurred on December 18 outside the KKCO/KJCT television station, where reporter Ja'Ronn Alex was allegedly assaulted because of his Pacific Islander background.
https://apnews.com/article/colorado-reporter-attack-659e770e921095ecf4968a73674eed4dTan, a woman from Singapore, was involved in an assault case where she used excessive force against her husband with a mop, breaking its aluminium pole into three pieces. She also made threats to kill him and his bail was forfeited due to her actions. Tan's defence lawyer argued that she suffers from mental health conditions such as mixed anxiety-depressive disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, but the prosecution disputed this link. Tan is currently out on bail and faces sentencing for charges including voluntarily causing hurt and threatening words, which carry potential penalties of up to three years in jail and fines of up to S$5,000.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2025/01/03/singapore-housewife-in-court-for-egg-throwing-mop-attack-on-neighbour-and-threat-to-kill-husband-in-his-sleep/161888A record number of Japanese teachers took mental health leave in fiscal year 2023, according to a report by the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper on January 2, 2025. The exact figure was not specified in the article, but it highlighted the growing concern about teacher burnout and stress in Japan's education system.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250102/p2g/00m/0na/030000c