'Music is remedy for stress'

The authorities are alarmed by the increasing number of suicide attempts, many of them by young people. According to experts, the social alienation many people experience living in a large city like Jakarta can increase stress levels. The Jakarta Post asked some residents how they dealt with stress.

Mulyadi, 45, is a construction worker. He lives in Suradita subdistrict, Cisauk, Tangerang, with his wife and three children:

I never have stress in my life. I sleep well at night. I'm not rich, but I don't think about that much.

I can support family because I don't mind doing any honest work. Jobs are always there if you look for them.

Just enjoy what you have, and don't think about how to get something that you can't afford.

Well, I do have problems just like other people. But watching TV or chatting with my neighbors helps me forget my problems for a while.

Ichsan, 32, is a music programmer at a radio station. He lives in Meruya, West Jakarta:

When push comes to shove, I listen to music. I'm not kidding you, I have a collection of music that I always play when I'm feeling bad or I'm in some kind of trouble.

I'm an adult, so I think I can deal with my problems. I know what to do and I know who can provide help.

But I worry about my three-year-old daughter. What if she feels that she is not loved because me and my wife are working and rarely see her during the day? How will she be able to deal with her problems when she grows up if she thinks she doesn't have anyone to turn to?

I believe that a child who is loved enough by his or her parents will grow up with a strong personality.

--The Jakarta Post