KUALA LUMPUR: In less than a month since its launch, the MySejahtera application's MyMinda feature has found almost 4,000 people at risk of depression, says Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
"As of Nov 15, and not even a month after MyMinda's launch, 17,300 screenings were done through MySejahtera and 3,983 or 23% were (found to be) at risk of depression.
"A total of 15% or 2,592 were at risk of suffering from anxiety," the Health Minister said in reply to a supplementary question by Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Nov 20).
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Earlier, Dr Zaliha informed the House that the MyMinda feature was launched on Oct 22 in conjunction with World Mental Health Day.
She said the feature allows users access to screening to gauge their mental health status.
"Those who are at risk have direct access through MySejahtera to psycho-education resources.
"If they need further assistance such as counselling, they can contact the National Mental Health Crisis Line or HEAL Line at 15555," she added.
Noraini wanted to know what was being done to address mental health issues affecting some 424,000 children in the country, based on a recent report.
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The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 showed that one in four teenagers had experienced depression, one in eight had suicidal thoughts and one in 10 had attempted suicide.
Meanwhile, Dr Zaliha expressed worry over mental health issues affecting children living in people's housing projects (PPR) in the Klang Valley.
"This is a worrying phenomenon and although we have modules and programmes to address this, the issue should be handled through inter-agency efforts," she said in reply to a supplementary question by Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat).
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She said there should be collaboration between the Local Government Development Ministry and the Health Ministry to look at cramped living conditions as a factor.
She said such living conditions may result in mental health issues, saying that there are PPR two-room flats which are home to three generations of a family.
Onn had earlier said a Unicef report showed that 12.3% of children between 10 and 17 living in PPR in the Klang Valley suffered from mental health issues and some have suicidal tendencies.
