The Understanding of Meruyan and Help Seeking Behaviour among a Melanau Community of Sarawak: The Implications for Social Work Practice

Nur Aida, Roslan (2020) The Understanding of Meruyan and Help Seeking Behaviour among a Melanau Community of Sarawak: The Implications for Social Work Practice. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

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Abstract

The understanding of mental health and mental illness varies across different cultures, and influences help-seeking behaviour. Postnatal depression, a condition experienced by some women after birth, is one example of mental health problem interpreted differently in different cultures and societies. This study aims to explore how postnatal depression is understood by an indigenous community of Sarawak, Malaysia and their help-seeking behaviour for it. The community selected is the Melanau community in Dalat District in Mukah, Sarawak, who are known to have traditional healing practices for various illnesses, including postnatal depression which is known as meruyan in their language. This research utilized a qualitative approach in which the main data collection method is in-depth interview. The research participants are women who experienced meruyan, family caregivers, and the traditional healers. Findings highlighted that the community perceived meruyan as a sickness experience by some women after giving birth which cannot be controlled. It is caused by several factors including breaking taboos in term of the food they consume and their action; and resilience of the women. Consequently, traditional healing is the first source of help in both identification and treatment process, and often from one after another even those in other ethnic communities. Modern medical care is used at a later stage and as a supplement. The research also discusses the implications of the finding for social work practice.

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