Issues and Trends of Depression among Students in Malaysia

Depression is an emotional disease that is increasingly serious among teenagers today, mostly involving school students. This situation is very worrying when student depression can lead to worse incidents such as criminal behaviors, social problems, and suicide. Therefore, this study aims to identify the depression levels of secondary school students in North Penang, Malaysia. A total of 3932 form four students were involved as a study sample using the Depression Anxiety Stress Inventory 21 (DASS21) instrument adapted from the Ministry of Health, Malaysia (MOH). The study conducted concerning research ethics, such as obtaining permission from the Penang State Education Department, the school, and students' heirs. The result found that 72.6% of students had normal depression, and 12.5% of students found to have lite depression only. Overall, it can be concluded that most students experience depression even at the lowest level. Students need to be given due attention, including emphasizing the aspects of guidance and counseling to lead a better life in the future. Thus, preventive measures should be planned systematically. A study of the need for counseling intervention modules should be implemented to help reduce school student depression.