The Awareness of Depression Among School Teachers at Smka Al-Mashoor Perempuan, Penang Island

Abstract

This study aims to explore the awareness of teachers at SMKA Al-Mashoor Perempuan, Penang Island, regarding the issue of depression. Additionally, it investigates the coping strategies practiced by teachers to address depression. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 3.8% of the population is estimated to grapple with depression, encompassing 5% of adults (with a breakdown of 4% among men and 6% among women). Moreover, 5.7% of adults aged over 60 years are affected by depression. Depression is also said to have an impact on other health problems, whether chronic diseases or the increasing suicide rate in a country. Out of 22,000 depression patients treated at the psychiatric clinic in Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, 10% of them are reported to be teachers.Previous studies have indicated a lack of public knowledge about depression. Therefore, this study focuses on the knowledge of teachers regarding depression. To address the research objectives, an in-depth interview method was employed. The findings of this study were analyzed thematically. The results show that teachers are aware of the issue of depression. The coping strategies applied by teachers to address depression include social support and religious aspects. The study also suggests intervention methods to address depression, such as seeking treatment from experts and the importance of counseling sessions. The findings highlight the need for social workers in schools to address the increasing prevalence of depression among teachers, in addition to raising awareness about depression among educators. Keywords: Coping Strategies, Depression, Mental Health, School Teacher, Social Work in School.