15 October 2012 | last updated at 12:40AM
KOTA KINABALU: About 30,000 registered psychiatric patients in Sabah are undergoing treatment at government hospitals and clinics.
State Health director Datuk Dr Mohd Yusof Ibrahim said this in a speech to mark Mental Health Month at Mesra Hospital here on Saturday.
The speech, read by his chief senior assistant director Dr Low Chung Kiat, stated that most of the patients were aged between 16 and 24, and there were twice as many women as men.
Yusof also related the national health and morbidity survey last year indicating sufferers of generalised anxiety and major depressive disorders were mostly from urban areas.
He also noted that the suicide rate had increased and it was becoming a common phenomenon.
He praised the Health Ministry's efforts in holding awareness campaigns, detecting early mental disorder symptoms and effective rehabilitation programme.
Dr Yusof said the implementation of the Mental Health Act 2001, a concept to guard patients' best interest in choosing treatment, had helped their next of kin to be more receptive to the condition.
Present were Mesra Hospital director Dr Zuraidah Ahmad Babji and event organising chairperson Dr Norhayati Nordin.
Dr Norhayati said managing stress could prevent depression.
"If we can't control depression, it will lead to severe form of mental disorder."
During the month-long programme, there will be a drawing competition, quizzes for secondary school students, health promotion, a family day with patients as well as a blood donation drive.
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