KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — The establishment of a mental health institute (MHI) can catalyse better management of mental health issues, said a psychiatric expert.
Dr A’isyah Che Rahimi of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Psychiatry Department said the institute must be fine-tuned to optimise resource usage as Malaysia already has the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Cyberjaya.
“We already have a paediatric institute for children, the National Heart Institute and the National Cancer Institute, but we do not have an institute dedicated to mental health,” she told Bernama.
Yesterday, while tabling the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review in Parliament, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the government’s plan to establish an MHI to deal with mental health issues in the nation, which are becoming increasingly concerning.
“The 2019 National Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) showed an increase in depression among Malaysians, while the 2022 NHMS found one in eight teenagers have suicidal thoughts and one in four experience depression,” she said.
Malaysian Public Health Organisation adviser Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said such an institute can also train teaching and clinical staff to prevent, identify and provide early treatment for those going through mental health problems.
“It is an excellent idea and perfect timing to set up an MHI,” he said, adding that a Health Ministry’s study found a prevalence of mental health issues across age groups and socio-economic statuses.
— Bernama
