Health Ministry teams with NGOs to tackle spiralling mental health crisis

By Olivia Miwil 29 September, 2016 @1143am

KOTA KINABALU: The Health Ministry will work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in addressing mental health issues among Malaysians. 

Its Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the plan to engage NGOs will help identify those suffering from mental illnesses and encourage them to seek treatment. 

“About 30 per cent of the population have the disease, but at different points along the spectrum, ranging from mild depression to suicidality. 

“The ministry is conducting many programmes to bring awareness to the public,” he said at a press conference after launching the second Malaysian Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (Mabip) 2016 at Queen Elizabeth hospital here. 

At present, there are 671 facilities and 360 registered psychiatrists in the country to provide treatment for the people. 

The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) revealed that 4.2 million Malaysians suffer from mental health issues, with the highest prevalence being among those aged between 16 and 19, and those from low income families. 

Meanwhile, Consultant physician-geriatrician Dr Richard Ng said the prevalence of depression among senior citizens is at 10 per cent, but rises to 20 per cent among those living in old folks homes. 

“It is more challenging to diagnose depression in elderly patients as they do not show the classic low mood symptoms. 

“Warning signs of depression among senior citizens are waking up frequently at night, sleeping too much, even up to 12 hours a day, loss of interest in daily activities and multiple physical complaints despite a clean bill of health,” he added.

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