Fat Cat, the Face of the Suicide Phenomenon Gripping Gen Z

Gen Z who isolate themselves or are isolated are vulnerable to suicidal thoughts.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Visitors, mostly young people, crowded a coffee shop during the afternoon in Alam Sutera, South Tangerang, Banten, on Monday (22/1/2024).

Since the end of April 2024, netizens in China and several other countries have been discussing the death of Pang Mao (21). On April 25, 2024, the young man was found under the Yangtze bridge in Chongqing. He is suspected of committing suicide because of a breakup.

The young man known by the alias Fat Cat is known to be dating Tan Zhu (27). During their two years of dating, they only met twice. The rest, they communicate virtually because they live far apart.

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Although they were in a long-distance relationship, Pang regularly sent money to Tan. At least 500,000 yuan or Rp 1.1 billion was spent by Pang on Tan. The last transfer of 66,000 yuan was received by Tan a few days before Pang committed suicide. Most of the money was spent on financing Tan's lifestyle.

All of that money was earned from payments as a game player. Every time he plays, he can be paid 13 yuan. In a day, he can play online games several times. If it's not spent on Tan, Pang can live comfortably.

Infographic on the Prevalence of Teenagers Experiencing Mental Health Problems 2021

In fact, Pang lives a very frugal life. Every day, he only spends 10 yuan on food. He once uploaded a video expressing his desire to eat a hamburger at a fast food restaurant. The post indicated his craving for indulgence.

In China, it is common for young people like Fang to order up to eight courses at a time. Rice will be ordered last if you are still hungry. After all the menus are served, the waiter sometimes asks, ”Hi yao mi fan ma” (Do you still want white rice)?

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Pang and Tan are said to often fight. Later, they broke up even though Pang had sacrificed many things. This condition allegedly made Pang embarrassed. In Chinese tradition there is a philosophy of wei le mian zi or don't lose face. Someone who is embarrassed, out of love, and has lost hope like Pang would choose not to live anymore.

It is shameful that there is high pressure in China for young people to get married, achieve success, and become financially stable. All of these burdens weigh heavily on them.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Two patients with mental disorders completed paintings at the mental rehabilitation center of the Jamrud Biru Foundation in Mustikajaya Subdistrict, Bekasi City on Sunday (5/7/2023).

A similar condition is experienced in other countries in East Asia. Various young celebrities from Japan, China, and South Korea have died at a young age. Lee Eun-ju (24), Moon Bin (25), Jung Chae-yull (26), and Sulli (25) are on the list of celebrities who committed suicide.

Lots of frustration

Among ordinary young people, there is also a lot of frustration. Generation Z youth (gen Z) are stressed by high living costs, while salaries are low and it is difficult to find work, even though it is already difficult to go to school with expensive fees.

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According to CNN, young people who are actively involved in various age groups tend to be able to cope with this pressure. Problems will arise if Gen Z starts to withdraw from social relations.

Gen Z who isolate or are isolated are vulnerable to suicidal thoughts. In the journal JAMA it was discussed that up to 20 percent of teenagers have thought about suicide. Therefore, it is understandable that suicide is the highest cause of death for Gen Z. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that suicide among Gen Z has tripled.

infographic on three components of achieving mental health

There are many causes why young people think of committing suicide. "Until now, research on suicide has only focused on psychopathological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms," said Neuropsychiatry lecturer at the University of Tokyo, Shuntaro Ando.

In research conducted in Tokyo, it was found that respondents aged 16 tend to answer that they have thought of committing suicide if they fail to socialize. The likelihood of such conditions increases up to three times compared to teenagers who can socialize.

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In a separate research conducted in Chicago, a similar conclusion was also found. The researcher, John Duffy, concluded that teenagers were more likely to have suicidal thoughts compared to young adults.

As Le Monde reports, people aged 18-24 years in France most often think of suicide. In other age groups, thoughts are not like that.

KOMPAS/AMBROSIUS HARTO MANUMOYOSO

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Individuals aged 18-24, among other things, are anxious about war and the impact of climate change. They are also concerned about the lack of opportunities for success in various fields. "You cannot imagine the impact of all the negative and fatal conversations that occur during identity formation," said mental health expert Charles Edouard Notredame at the National Central Hospital in Lille, France.

Nowadays, healthcare workers are making great efforts to handle the phenomenon of Gen Z who want to commit suicide. Dealing with anxiety becomes one of their focuses.

Prevention

Mental health issues, including excessive anxiety, need to be addressed. Parents and family members need to continue to support teenagers. "Don't assume that withdrawing from society is not a problem," said Shuntaro Ando.

MEDIA SOSIAL HARIAN KOMPAS/ANTONIUS SULISTYO PRABOWO

The number of millennial and Generation Z voters, which amounts to 115.6 million or 56.45% of the total electorate, make their voices sought after by the contestants of the 2024 Election.

Even a child who appears to socialize regularly may still feel lonely. It's possible that the child still feels alienated amidst the crowd.

The environment surrounding teenagers and children needs to continually encourage them to socialize appropriately and genuinely, not simply to become part of the crowd. Parents and families need to assist children and teenagers in becoming an alternative means of socialization if they detect signs of isolation in one location.

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Social media companies are also trying to help reduce the phenomenon of suicide. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, announced that posts and materials that could trigger suicide will be hidden from Gen Z. This also applies to materials about self-harm and eating disorders.

Meta is also trying to implement an age limit for users of their platform. This is part of the material curation. (AP/REUTERS)