Two Indonesian health institutions have raised concern about mental health problems, as many people struggle to cope with the changes they face during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 14,619 people received treatment from members of the Indonesian Clinical Psychologists Association (IPK Indonesia) from March to August.

The most common issues reported are linked to learning difficulties, anxiety, stress, mood disorders and depression.

Meanwhile, a self-examination study conducted by the Indonesian Psychiatrists Association (PDSKJI) from April to August found that 57.6 percent of the participants were identified as having symptoms of depression.

Meanwhile, 58.9 percent of the self-examination partakers reported having suicidal or self-harm thoughts, with 15.4 percent experiencing this on a daily basis.

“The long-standing COVID-19 pandemic has raised various mental health problems,” the groups said in a statement on Thursday.

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The groups urged Indonesians to recognize signs or tendencies of suicidal thoughts and immediately help the affected individuals seek help.

“The community needs to learn and understand various things that can cause mental health problems and how to overcome them,” the groups said, adding that they were willing to provide community assistants.

The groups called on people to care and pay more attention to others, recognizing that suicidal tendencies could be prevented through intensive treatment by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists.

“Suicidal thoughts, intentions or actions have multidimensional and biopsychosocial causes; [they are] not due to a person’s weak faith,” the groups stated.

Each year, around 800,000 people in the world commit suicide, meaning a person commits suicide every 40 seconds, according to data from the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) quoted by the groups.