The Relationship Between Social Support and Mental Health in Secondary School

Abstract

Mental health issues among students should be a matter of serious concern for all parties, as effective social support can assist students in preventing mental health problems.There is a scarcity of research conducted on the relationship between social support and mental health within the Malaysian society.Additionally, limited studies have focused on schoolchildren and the elderly, who are particularly in need of substantial social support.The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between social support and mental health among students at SMK Khir Johari, Kedah.The questionnaire for this study comprises three essential sections: Part A, which covers personal information, Part B, which addresses social support, and Part C, which focuses on mental health.This study employed two research instruments: the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behavior (ISSB), designed to assess social support among school students, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), used to gauge the mental health levels of the study's participants.The study included a sample of 132 participants.The study's findings indicated a lack of significant relationship between social support and mental health among students.In conclusion, it is recommended to establish crisis intervention programs to provide essential support and care for students' mental health.In future studies, it is advisable to employ a more comprehensive evaluation approach, combining qualitative methods such as observations and interviews with respondents.