4th Essay

 GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING : LIFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC

        Ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being at all level of ages is one of the continuous focus in sustainable development goals. The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) has always making a significance progress in order to go against several causes leading to death and disease. It becomes even challenging since living with the current pandemic took a serious toll on our physical and mental health. A research found that there is a dramatically increasing trends in suicide during the coronavirus pandemic and this has becoming a severe concern as many countries face new stay-at-home restriction to curb the spread of this outbreak. 

        Several factors seemed to be contributing to the result of committing suicide including a deterioration in population of mental health, domestic violence and more. Particular emphasis has been given to the effect of the pandemic on children and young people. Many have lost their job, people they loved the most, their hope as a sole breadwinner for the family, the need to stay with toxic partner at home and more. Thus, numerous surveys have highlighted that their mental health has been disproportionately affected, suggests an increase in suicidal thoughts and self-harm. 

        Therefore, a pragmatic initiative must be taken to tackle this problem. There are many hotline help for depression, online counselling and therapist that are ready to assist whenever one is feeling unlikely emotional unstable. There are also appropriate safety nets to support someone who is facing financial hardship along with active labour market policies to help anyone who gets affected a lot as being unemployed or have any difficulty to obtain work during this hard time. The social media must play role as well by promoting the importance of mental health support, posting any reasonable sources to reach out for help, reporting stories on people recovering and surviving and avoiding to trigger any unwanted and unnecessary speculation that may contribute to the possibility of committing suicide. 

        

        In Islam, Allah swt mentioned in the al-Quran, surah al-An'am verse 151, "Say come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty. We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except by legal right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason". These commandments from Allah swt basically encompass what is described as unlawful in Islam which is involving our life, people around us and our surroundings. Allah swt also encourages us to be patient in dealings with any trials and tribulations since Allah had long ago promised in the al-Quran, surah al-Rum verse 60, "So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is true". Both patient and making prayer is completely an effective weapon in Muslim's daily life. Allah swt also reminds us to always be grateful for every uncountable blessings that were being bestowed upon us as mentioned in the al-Quran, surah Ibrahim verse 7, "If you are grateful, I shall most certainly give you more". Therefore, life is too short to be live in such a sorrow, mundane and grief circumstances. As an obedient servant of Allah swt and good Muslim, we should take into account that every living things and non-living things on Earth are equally important, precious and valuable.