Address stigma of mental illness openly

IN 2015, the Health Ministry revealed that 30% of Malaysians have a mental health condition. This figure is alarming and reflects a three-fold increase since 1996.

Yet we have not heard much from the Government to address this issue. The silence from the authorities is disappointing, to say the least. Imagine if the statement had been that three out of 10 people had cancer, or some other physical disease, would not the sense of urgency and call for action be so much greater?