DECRIMINALIZING SUICIDE: A REVIEW WITH ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES
Keywords:
suicide, islamic perspectives, mental health, legal changesAbstract
The recent decriminalization of suicide in Malaysia is the subject of this study, which specifically looks at it from an Islamic perspective. Using a qualitative research methodology, the study thoroughly reviews the literature, including both articles and research papers. The main objective is to identify obstacles and offer suggestions related to decriminalization. Religious perspectives and cultural implications are major areas of analysis. The goal of the study is to present a thorough grasp of the implications of decriminalizing suicide considering Islamic teachings. The research explores legal, cultural, and religious aspects while concentrating on barriers to implementing global policies and the stigma associated with mental illness that prevents people from seeking help. It makes suggestions for how Islamic organizations can actively address mental health issues in Malaysia and provides advice for helping those who suffer from mental illness that is based on Islamic principles. The expected results are intended to add to the conversation about mental health, Islamic perspectives, and international guidelines by offering sophisticated perspectives to researchers, policymakers, and Islamic organizations involved in these conversations. The study emphasizes how important it is for the Islamic community to work together to eliminate stigma and create a welcoming atmosphere for mental health.
Downloads
References
Amri, S., & Bemak, F. (2013). Mental health help-seeking behaviors of Muslim immigrants in the United States: Overcoming social stigma and cultural mistrust. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 7(1).
Andrews, L. (2016). Non-specialist health worker interventions for the care of mental, neurological, and substance-abuse disorders in low- and middle-income countries. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 37(2), 131–132. http://doi.org/10.3109/01612840.2015.1128299
Byrne, A., Mustafa, S., & Miah, I. Q. (2020). Working together to break the ‘circles of fear’ between Muslim communities and mental health services. In Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Fundamentalism, Radicalisation and Terrorism (pp. 120–127). Routledge.
Chang, S. S., Stuckler, D., Yip, P., & Gunnell, D. (2013). Impact of 2008 global economic crisis on suicide: Time trend study in 54 countries. The BMJ, 347. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f5239
CodeBlue. (2023, May 29). Attempted suicide rate rises to 10% among Malaysian teens: NHMS survey. CodeBlue. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2023/05/29/attempted-suicide-rate-rises-to-10-among-malaysian-teens-nhms-survey/
Cooper, W. (2022, March 28). Countries with the best mental healthcare in the world – Mapped. William Russell. https://www.william-russell.com/blog/countries-best-mental-healthcare/
Cowman, S., Björkdahl, A., Clarke, E., Gethin, G., & Maguire, J. (2017). A descriptive survey study of violence management and priorities among psychiatric staff in mental health services, across seventeen European countries. BMC Health Services Research, 17. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-1988-7
FMT Reporters. (2023, February). More funds needed to resolve public healthcare issues, says Zaliha. Free Malaysia Today (FMT). https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/02/01/more-funds-needed-to-resolve-public-healthcare-issues-says-zaliha/
Galea, S., Merchant, R., & Lurie, N. (2020). The mental health consequences of COVID-19 and physical distancing: The need for prevention and early intervention. JAMA Internal Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562
https://www.facebook.com/getaranmy. (2023, June 21). Proses pindaan undang-undang nyahjenayah cubaan bunuh diri peringkat parlimen selesai. Getaran. https://www.getaran.my/artikel/semasa/49362/proses-pindaan-undang-undang-nyahjenayah-cubaan-bunuh-diri-peringkat-parlimen-selesai
Holland, K. M., Jones, C. M., Vivolo-Kantor, A. M., Idaikkadar, N., Zwald, M., Hoots, B., Yard, E., D'Inverno, A. S., Swedo, E. A., Chen, May., Petrosky, E., Board, A., Martinez, P. D., Stone, D. M., Law, R., Coletta, M., Adjemian, J., Thomas, C. W., Puddy, R., Peacock, G., Dowling, N. F., & Houry, D. (2021). Trends in US emergency department visits for mental health, overdose, and violence outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4402
Hossain, M., Sultana, A., & Purohit, N. (2020). Mental health outcomes of quarantine and isolation for infection prevention: A systematic umbrella review of the global evidence. Epidemiology and Health, 42. http://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3561265
Koh, E. (2023, June 28). Here’s why Malaysia and other countries are decriminalizing suicide. TIME. https://time.com/6290858/malaysia-suicide-decriminalization-mental-health/
Lim, B. (2017, January 23). Mental Health Council sounds alarm bell on M’sia’s psychiatrist shortage. NST Online. https://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/01/206598/mental-health-council-sounds-alarm-bell-msias-psychiatrist-shortage
Naghavi, M. (2019). Global, regional, and national burden of suicide mortality 1990 to 2016: Systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The BMJ, 364. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l94
Ospina-Pinillos, L., Davenport, T., Diaz, A. M., Navarro-Mancilla, A., Scott, E., & Hickie, I. (2019). Using participatory design methodologies to co-design and culturally adapt the Spanish version of the Mental Health eClinic: Qualitative study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21. http://doi.org/10.2196/14127
Padela, A. I., Killawi, A., Heisler, M., Demonner, S., & Fetters, M. D. (2011). The role of imams in American Muslim health: Perspectives of Muslim community leaders in Southeast Michigan. Journal of Religion and Health, 50, 359–373.
Pejabat Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan. (2019, October 10). Bayan Linnas Siri Ke-216: Islam, Joker dan stigma masalah mental. Pejabat Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan. https://www.muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/bayan-linnas/3733-bayan-linnas-siri-ke-216-islam-joker-dan-stigma-masalah-mental
Raaj, S., Navanathan, S., Tharmaselan, M., & Lally, J. (2021). Mental disorders in Malaysia: An increase in lifetime prevalence. BJPsych International, 18(4), 97–99. https://doi.org/10.1192/bji.2021.4
Sabry, W. M., & Vohra, A. (2013). Role of Islam in the management of psychiatric disorders. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(Suppl 2), S205.
Semo, B. W., & Frissa, S. (2020). The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for Sub-Saharan Africa. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 13, 713–720. http://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S264286
Semrau, M., Lempp, H., Keynejad, R., Evans-Lacko, S., Mugisha, J., Raja, S., Lamichhane, J., Alem, A., Thornicroft, G., & Hanlon, C. (2016). Service user and caregiver involvement in mental health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 16. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1323-8
Starace, F., & Ferrara, M. (2020). COVID-19 disease emergency operational instructions for Mental Health Departments issued by the Italian Society of Epidemiological Psychiatry. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29. http://doi.org/10.1017/s2045796020000372
Thornicroft, G., & Semrau, M. (2018). Mental health capacity building in low- and middle-income countries: The Emerald Programme. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 27, 1–2. http://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796017000592
Torales, J., O’Higgins, M., Castaldelli-Maia, J., & Ventriglio, A. (2020). The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66, 317–320. http://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020915212
World Health Organization. (2022, June 17). Mental health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
Xiang, Y., Jin, Y., & Cheung, T. (2020). Joint international collaboration to combat mental health challenges during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1057
