Kota Kinabalu: Ordinary conflicts between Zara Qairina Mahathir and her mother, including reprimands, nagging and certain emotional diary entries, should not be viewed in isolation to conclude that their relationship was the main factor or dominant trigger behind her death, the Coroner’s Court heard on Monday.
Child psychologist and registered counsellor Dr Noor Aishah Rosli said diary entries expressing anger or containing abusive language towards Zara’s mother were, on their own, insufficient to support a conclusion that Zara had suicidal intentions or was experiencing significant psychological distress arising from their relationship.
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She told the court that suicide risk assessments in a psychological autopsy must be based on multiple consistent sources of information, including mental health history, behavioural changes, communications relating to death, suicidal intent, major stressors, protective factors, social relationships and other supporting evidence.
Noor Aishah said her assessment of Zara’s relationship with both parents found no strong support for the hypothesis that her relationship with her mother was the main factor or dominant trigger for her taking her own life, adding that Zara remained in contact with her father and that his physical absence should not automatically be interpreted as a lack of belonging.
She also said the available information showed Zara had strong emotional support from her mother, family members, her caregiver, neighbours and several friends, which represented important protective factors in the psychological assessment, before the court adjourned with the hearing continuing.
