Multiple sclerosis support urged after Hong Kong survey reveals nearly 30 per cent of patients thought about suicide
Findings also show 9.4 per cent of those afflicted with the incurable neurological disease had tried to kill themselves in the past
Doctors and concern groups in Hong Kong are calling for heightened awareness of the mental state of patients suffering from a rare and incurable neurological disease as a local survey found close to 30 per cent of patients had experienced suicidal thoughts.
The survey conducted by the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Neuromuscular Disease Association from April to May revealed that 9.4 per cent of the 106 interviewed multiple sclerosis patients had tried to kill themselves in the past.
“The figures are alarming ... We spend most of our time explaining the illness to patients during consultation but don’t have much chance to listen to their worries,” society vice-chairman Dr Richard Li said.
Multiple sclerosis, which usually strikes people between the ages of 20 and 40, is a condition in which one’s nerves are damaged by the immune system, leading to deterioration of motor or cognitive abilities. For most patients, symptoms such as numb limbs, balance problems or blurry vision appear irregularly throughout one’s life.