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Counseling programs needed to stop suicides
Experts are calling for students to use counseling sessions to share their problems in a bid to avoid stress and depression, following cases of students committing suicide
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Experts are calling for students to use counseling sessions to share their problems in a bid to avoid stress and depression, following cases of students committing suicide.
Tiwin Herman, a psychologist, said university students tended to have more complex problems than when they were at school, so they needed to share them with friends or family members to avoid stress and depression.
"Students are forced to work more individually as part of the learning process. Family and financial pressure are just two of the many problems they might face. They are sometimes pressured (by parents) to immediately finish their studies so they will not drop out," Tiwin told The Jakarta Post recently.
"Not all students can handle this kind of pressure. The condition might get worse if you don't have friends to turn to.
"Keeping problems to yourself can trigger stress and even depression. The worst part is, it can later lead to suicidal thoughts," she said.
She said counseling sessions on campuses were an important way to accommodate students wanting to share their problems.
"It will be helpful for students who live far from home and their parents. So, every university should activate this program for the sake of its students," Tiwin added.
Tjhin Wiguna, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, said students should take advantage of the counseling session.
"It would be great if students came for counseling sessions regularly, not only when they have got problems. Sharing with other people about what you feel or think can lighten your burden," Tjhin said.
On Tuesday, Novi Mirawati, a psychology student at the University of Indonesia, died after falling from the seventh floor of Pusat Grosir Cililitan shopping center in East Jakarta.
The 21-year-old woman, who suffered major injuries to her abdomen, head and face, was later taken to UKI hospital, near the area. Nova died the next day due to damage to many organs.
Her family said that they did not know whether Nova had problems or not. But her friends said that Nova, who was known as a cheerful student, began to become quiet and introverted a few weeks before she decided to jump off the building.
The day before, Hendrawan Winata, an economics student at YAI University in Central Jakarta, was found dead after falling from the 13th floor of Atmajaya University in South Jakarta.
Setiabudi subprecinct police officers said their investigations indicated that the 25-year-old man decided to take his own life due to education pressures.
Theresia, the mother of Hendrawan, said her son might have been depressed because he had not yet finished his study. His father urged him to finish it immediately, she said, as reported by Kompas daily.
Hendrawan ran away from home the week before his body was found, Theresia said.
She said her son was introverted and never shared his problems with his family except her.
Tiwin said introverted students, who did not have any friends, were more likely to commit suicide than those who were extroverted.
Those who commit suicide usually see the world in a negative way, Tjhin said.
Both Tiwin and Tjhin said parents played a big role in watching over and supporting their children.
"In many cases, parents are the last people who know about their children's condition and situation," Tiwin said.
"Parents often say quality family time comes first, while the quantity comes second. This is wrong.
"How can parents have a great time with their children and get to know them if they don't spend enough time with them? Parents should spend more time with their children."
