UNIMAS, Universiti Malaysia of Sarawak
Mental Pollution
Written by Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang
Email: charmeleon999@gmail.com
2nd-year Cognitive Science Student in UNIMAS
Abstract: Mental pollution Is a kind of pollution that affects the moral value of one person after some influences or from their own desire. With mental pollution, many people are suffering from mental illnesses, performing violence and being selfish among each other. Objective: To share the awareness of mental pollution for everyone. Materials and methods: the Slow introduction to Raja Yoga meditation, having non-violence initiative, sharing positive vibes, having EEG scanning on positive and negative energy, the survey on social media influences, organizing awareness, and many more through various ideas throughout the world. Results and conclusion: (Questioning yourself, is the world a better place for you to stay?)
Key Words: Mental Pollution, health, sources, pollutants
Further Information about mental pollution:
From International Women’s University in Suderburg (2000),
The products come out from mental pollution is
1. Corruption — international issue, making the world harder to be better
2. Arrogance – Blocking people to understand each other, believing that we are able to explain everything
3. Consumerism – Causes of degrading within the degradation.
4. Individualism – People thinking only about themselves without any consideration about others
From UIA (2001),
“Mental pollution has spoiled the socioeconomic atmosphere and political climate almost everywhere and has made man fight man, nation preparing itself militarily against nation, and allowed one person to exploit many others by categorizing them monetarily, politically, militarily, sexually and in other ways. Mental pollution is a global issue because it can affect every person in one way or another.
Impurification of man’s mind by pollutants like selfishness, jealousy, greed, anger, and lust.”
From Jagdish (2000),
“Mental pollution is about the environment of man’s mind by selfishness, jealousy, greed, anger and etc.”
“Making humans fight against each other. Country leaders preparing military assistance against monetarily, politically, militarily, sexually and in other many ways.”
From a study conducted by (Cetin, 2012), an experiment conducted among 110 Turkish people from different age groups, gender, and profession. Grouping had been conducted according to their literacy level to see whether or not the view regarding mental pollution changes in relation to the educational background.
The findings from this experiment are that respondents from higher academic backgrounds (BA, MA, Ph.D.) seem to be more aware of the presence of mental pollution. Others think that mental pollution
News about mental health issues in Malaysia
“KUALA LUMPUR: By 2020, mental illness is expected to be the second biggest health problem affecting Malaysians after heart disease.
Referring to the National Health and Morbidity Survey, every three in 10 adults aged from 16 years and above in Malaysia suffer from some form of mental health illnesses.” (The Sun Daily, 2018).
“Petaling Jaya.: Four out of every 10 Malaysians will be a fallen victim to some kinds of mental health issue in their lives and psychologist believe that the number will continue to increase” (D. Kanyakumari, 2017)
“Petaling Jaya: The Health Ministry is looking for expansion and more improvement towards facilities needed for mental health treatment.
Although a lot of mental health patients can be sent into the community as a form of therapy, others for valid reasons, are not allowed to leave the hospitals. The mental health illnesses stigma can make the situation worse.” (D. Kanyakumari, 2017)
“The demanding for the living is the cause for depression, anxiety and other mental health problems in young people”. (Nadia Badarudin, 2018)
“Mental health is something that has misunderstood issues and many relate it with madness. We should not simply conclude the mentally-ill people as ‘gila’ (crazy) and most people who live with mental illnesses have, some will be blamed for their condition and they’ve been bullied” (Zaheera Johari, 2017)
Sources of mental pollution, pollutants
These sources are the main pollutants for mental pollution.
Instagram:
From Nichos M. R. (2017), young people will be having sleep deprivation, body-image issues, anxiety, and depression. Nearly 91% of 16 to 24 years old are at risk.
As young women looking at those feeds, they compare themselves with images that have been edited and filtered. While they are using these networks at a critical time, their self-identities are been explored and solidified. Their feelings will be surrounded by the effects of social media are also critical. Social media feeds act on self-esteem, lowering and potentially feeding anxiety and depression
When they fail to make figure curvier and adding makeup for deceptive layers for self-identity, their self-esteem and self-worth tank will affect too.
Peer pressure and peer influence:
Based from (The Australian Parenting Website, 2015), Peer influence started when you choosing something to do even though you would not do so because you want to feel accepted and been valued by your friends. Moreover, it is not just or always about something that you really want.
Peer pressure is a way to describe how teen’s behavior is shaped so they will have the sense of feeling wanted from a group of friends or peers.
We focus more on the negative impact due to our topic regarding mental pollution.
Besides peer pressure and peer influences, (Maria R. T. de Guzman, 2007)
Social media:
From (Murat Mengü and Seda Mengü, 2015),
News and newspapers have some pieces about violence, some key points have been determined various definitions of violence:
Example,
1. Action or fast decision of violence or behavior
2. Abusing or unjust in exertion, unrightfully force or unapproved for the violation and damaging purposes.
3. Have contents about abuse and injury.
News through social media held with respect in these few categories:
1. Social media, the generator of violent actions. (domestic violence, cyberbullying, social upheavals, misdemeanors etc.)
Culture and social norms Influences:
From (World Health Organisation, 2009),
Due to cultural and social norms that have different types of violence, children are given less treatment especially female children, some they receive physical punishment or harmful traditional cultural practices through their private parts.
Violence in intimate partner happened as well. For example, man has a right to control women which restricting women freedom and their behavior. Women will the ones responsible for marriage work. In South Africa, it is a taboo subject. In Nigeria, reporting about abuse is disrespectful.
Suicide and self-harm from individuals who feel that mental health problems are embarrassing and shameful. Some individuals from different social groups like homosexuals are not tolerable in society.
Sexual violence towards female is happening around the world. Controlling a man’s sexual urges is girl’s responsibility like in South Africa. It is shameful for a rape victim being attack by sexual violence. Some happened due to taboo subjects.
Reports about bullying among youth are unacceptable. It is an acceptable way to have violence to resolve a conflict.
Racism, homophobic, xenophobic violence are some contribution towards cultural intolerance, intense dislike and stereotyping on “different” groups within society who are In different nationalities, ethnicities, and homosexuals.
Solutions
There many solutions that able to solve this pollution. We will be applying one of the best medicines in the world, meditation. It is not just any kind of meditation that we see today. This is Raja Yoga meditation. The original practice for peace.
Just a minute of meditation, we are able to achieve the power of silence which can solve many kinds of mental illnesses like stress and tension.
We have to work together to share the awareness, finding the initiative to gain peace and seeking help from powerful people in positive actions. When there are opportunities, we will be working on it.
Summary and Conclusion
Mental pollution is happening everywhere. It affects everyone’s mindset and deteriorating the moral values that we have. Hope everyone can be united to overcome this problem.
Reference
Cetin Y. (2012). Impact of Mental Pollution on Learning and Memory. Social and Behavioural Sciences. 46, pp. 5320 – 5323.
D. Kanyakumari. (2017). Depression: the Health Ministry needs to boost mental health facilities. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/02/health-ministry-needs-to-boost-mental-health-facilities/
D. Kanyakumari. (2017). Depression: 40% of Malaysian will suffer from mental health issues in their lifetime. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/02/malaysians-will-suffer-from-mental-health-issues-in-their-lifetime/
Jagdish Chander. (2000). Applied Spiritual Knowledge. Rajasthan, India: Om Shanti Press.
International Women’s University in Suderburg. (2000). Mental Pollution. Retrieved from http://wifu.org/ligia/mentalp.html
Maria R. T. de Guzman. (2007). Friendships, Peer Influence, and Peer Pressure during the Teen Years. University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Murat Mengü and Seda Mengü. (2015). Violence and Social Media. Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications. 1(3), pp. 213- 226.
Nadia Badarudin. (2018). Tackling mental health issues in Young People. Retrieved from https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/heal/2018/01/327953/tackling-mental-health-issues-young-people
Nichols M. R. (2017). Instagram has the Worst Effect on Your Mental Health According to New Study. Retrieved from https://schooledbyscience.com/social-media-effect-mental-health/
The Australian Parenting Website. (2015). Peer Pressure and Influence: Teenagers. Retrieved from https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/behaviour/peers-friends-trends/peer-influence
The Sun Daily. (2018). Resolving mental illness issues in Malaysia. Retrieved from http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/04/18/resolving-mental-illness-issues-malaysia
UIA. (2001). Mental pollution. Retrieved from http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/problem/145258
World Health Organisation. (2009). Changing cultural and social norms that support violence. Violence Prevention the Evidence.
Zaheera Johari. (2017). Fatimah: Mental illness on the rise in Malaysia. Borneo Post Online, http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/10/25/fatimah-mental-illness-on-the-rise-in-malaysia/
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