Kishan Kariippanon
Youth Health 2.0
Multicultural societies and its young people face a
question that is very often left unaddressed. The question of "What
is my identity, in this country?" This discussion is about young
people from Indian background (4th & 5th generation born in
Malaysia) growing up in Malaysia and the impact it has on their
mental health - it is a reflection of my observations and
consultations in September & October of this year in 5 States
across the country.
Shurain (32 y.o. Engineer): "Young Indian boys and
girls from the plantation estates, study in Tamil schools and then
when its time to go to state schools for junior and high school,
they cannot communicate well with the Chinese and Malay students.
They leave school and start working…as young as 13 y.o."
Since I'm of Indian background, it was feasible for
me to observe the dynamics of young Malaysians of Indian
background. I talked to them, their siblings, parents, their
teachers and especially with random people on the street who had a
minute to chat with me. I enjoyed the process as I tried to grasp
the idea of 'nationality' as a minority ethnic community in
Malaysia.
Are we Indians or are we Malaysians? This question,
having poorly been addressed has created problems in the ethnic
Indian community, especially the youth, causing negative impact to
their mental health. This is a public health concern that requires
the attention of researchers, counsellors and health communication
experts.
Maran (Engineer, 32 y.o.): "I was born here in
Malaysia. So were my parents and their parents but we still
continued to call ourselves Indians. We know that we are not
Indians but Malaysians. It is hard to think of yourself as a
Malaysian when society still calls you an Indian or Chinese or
Malay when referring to your nationality."
What is prevalent today amongst the youth is an
increase in incarceration rates of youth from Indian background,
their low socio economic status, low literacy levels and their lack
of skills to socialise and interact with other races. This is
partly due to their own lack of understanding their identity and
their relation to their country. Only when a young person
understands who they are and what they are, can they accommodate
the process of learning to communicate with others and to socialise
with different races. Through a well balanced understanding of
their own identity only, can a young person see the beauty and
advantages of living in a diverse society, and use it to develop
themselves into wholesome adults.
Taila (Teacher, 45 y.o.): "Every time I discipline
an Indian student for not doing their homework, I'm accused of
being a racist."
Through understanding their identity, young people
can establish a closer bond to the land or country where they live
and contribute to their community and fellow citizens. This simple
act of understanding your identity creates happiness and wellbeing
that generates actions and thoughts that are productive not only to
oneself but also to the wider community.
A striking example that I'd like to share with you
is that many young people (Indian background) face problems of low
self esteem which they try to compensate through the acquisition of
material things - thinking that it makes them worthy of respect. A
common problem young people face growing up in emerging economy
countries. Although this may be commendable in some
instances, many become gangsters in search of respect, wealth and
the need to be acknowledged.
Katharina (Homemaker, 31 y.o.): I was 4 years old
when my parents migrated from Germany. In school I was always
teased cause I spoke English with an accent and I wore different
clothes and ate rye bread instead of white toast. That experience
causes me anguish until today."
This is an issue that requires mental health
professionals to develop policies and programs that help create a
supportive environment for young people, regardless of ethnicity or
nationality, in order to form their own identity. With a serious
and sincere effort to educate, support and make available platforms
for a more open discussion on identity, whether of an individual
young person or their community, the health and well being of young
people will be in a better place to face life's challenges.
Is it different being a young migrant or refugee in
Australia as opposed to a youth of Indian background in
Malaysia?
How do young people raised in Australia by migrant
parents deal with nationality and identity?
by Kishan Kariippanon, Youth Health 2.0
Multicultural societies and its young people face a question
that is very often left unaddressed. The question of "What is my
identity, in this country?" This discussion is about young people
from Indian background (4th & 5th generation born in Malaysia)
growing up in Malaysia and the impact it has on their mental health
- it is a reflection of my observations and consultations in
September & October of this year in 5 States across the
country.
Since I'm of Indian background, it was feasible for me to
observe the dynamics of young Malaysians of Indian background. I
talked to them, their siblings, parents, their teachers and
especially with random people on the street who had a minute to
chat with me. I enjoyed the process as I tried to grasp the idea of
'nationality' as a minority ethnic community in Malaysia.
Are we Indians or are we Malaysians? This question, having
poorly been addressed has created problems in the ethnic Indian
community, especially the youth, causing negative impact to their
mental health. This is a public health concern that requires the
attention of researchers, counsellors and health communication
experts.
What is prevalent today amongst the youth is an increase in
incarceration rates of youth from Indian background, their low
socio economic status, low literacy levels and their lack of skills
to socialise and interact with other races. This is partly due to
their own lack of understanding their identity and their relation
to their country. Only when a young person understands who they are
and what they are, can they accommodate the process of learning to
communicate with others and to socialise with different races.
Through a well balanced understanding of their own identity only,
can a young person see the beauty and advantages of living in a
diverse society, and use it to develop themselves into wholesome
adults.
Through understanding their identity, young people can establish
a closer bond to the land or country where they live and contribute
to their community and fellow citizens. This simple act of
understanding your identity creates happiness and wellbeing that
generates actions and thoughts that are productive not only to
oneself but also to the wider community.
A striking example that I'd like to share with you is that many
young people (Indian background) face problems of low self esteem
which they try to compensate through the acquisition of material
things - thinking that it makes them worthy of respect. A common
problem young people face growing up in emerging economy countries.
Although this may be commendable in some instances, many
become gangsters in search of respect, wealth and the need to be
acknowledged.
This is an issue that requires mental health professionals to
develop policies and programs that help create a supportive
environment for young people, regardless of ethnicity or
nationality, in order to form their own identity. With a serious
and sincere effort to educate, support and make available platforms
for a more open discussion on identity, whether of an individual
young person or their community, the health and well being of young
people will be in a better place to face life's challenges.
Is it different being a young migrant or refugee in Australia as
opposed to a youth of Indian background in Malaysia?
How do young people raised in Australia by migrant parents deal
with nationality and identity?