Kota Kinabalu: The Coroner’s Court heard on Monday that there was no solid information indicating Zara Qairina Mahathir suffered from clinical depression, severe anxiety, serious mental illness or was at high risk of suicide between the ages of seven and 12.
Child psychologist and registered counsellor Dr Noor Aishah Rosli told the court that her assessment found no evidence Zara had persistent, planned or sustained suicidal intent before entering secondary school.
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She said issues relating to "barcode" behaviour, or non-suicidal self-injury, should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of suicidal intent.
She said such behaviour should instead be understood within the context of adolescent development, peer influence, current trends and emotionally immature ways of expressing distress, adding that the reported episodes were insufficient to support a conclusion of persistent, planned or ongoing suicidal intent.
Noor Aishah, the 76th deponent, was reading her witness statement before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
