In session: Lukanisman speaking in Parliament, addressing mental health issues including depression that are affecting many young Malaysians today. — Bernama
WITH close to a million teenagers and youths suffering from mental health issues, a comprehensive action plan will be implemented next year to address issues that are affecting many young Malaysians, says Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni.
The deputy Health Minister said records indicate that the number of young Malaysians facing mental health issues, including depression, had increased two-fold from 2019 to 2023.
“Based on the recent National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) report, mental health issues affecting teenagers and youths in schools and universities have increased from 7.9% or 424,000 in 2019 to 16.5% or 922,318 in 2023.
“That is why it is necessary to have a comprehensive action plan in place to deal with the issue,” he said in response to a question raised by Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang).
Lukanisman said the ministry is developing a Children and Youth Mental Health Action Plan, which is expected to be launched next year. He said incidents of attempted suicide and suicidal thoughts among youths had also increased over a 10-year period.
“Suicidal thoughts among youths increased from 7.9% to 13.1% between 2012 and 2022. Youths who made suicide plans also increased from 6.42% to 10%,” he added.
Lukanisman said that youths who had attempted suicide or were in the process of doing so had also increased from 6.81% to 9.5% in the same period.
Syed Ibrahim then suggested that the ministry take a more innovative outreach approach when dealing with mental health issues affecting youths, as many are relying on devices and social media nowadays.
He also suggested that the ministry provide a targeted budget to deal with the issue at the community level, as done by countries like Peru and New Zealand.
To a supplementary question by Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar), Lukanisman said there were several factors linked to the increase in mental health issues among youths.
“One of the factors is how homes are designed and urban planning involving high-density housing, such as PPR housing (People Housing Programme).
“Suicide is more prevalent in such communities as it gives rise to suicidal thoughts among the youths living there,” he said.
As such, Lukisman said his ministry is working closely with the Housing and Local Government Ministry to develop PPR housing that is more conducive to mental health.
“Mental health is a crucial segment of society, and investment in it is important to ensuring the nation’s productivity. If we allow our youths to face mental health issues on their own, the country will face a huge problem in the future,” he said.
Earlier, Lukanisman informed the House that the ministry has 1,088 health clinics, 68 hospitals and 37 community mental health centres providing access to those requiring help for mental health issues.
There are 200 physiological officers based in districts and health clinics. The ministry currently employs 18 child psychiatrist specialists, with plans to increase that to 30 by 2027.
To a supplementary question by Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng), Lukanisman urged bullying victims at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) to come forward for counselling, adding that mental health screenings should also be carried out on students at UPNM.
