KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has implemented various programmes to detect early symptoms of mental health at government clinics nationwide, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said those with the risks of developing mental illness would be screened to detect signs of stress, anxiety and depression.
He said there were 29.2 per cent of Malaysians aged 16 and above who suffered from poor mental health but not mental illness in 2015.
“There is a huge difference between the two terms,” he said when responding to a question from Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang) who had asked the ministry to state plans to overcome mental health problem.
Dr Subramaniam said various programmes had been implemented to prevent mental illness among the people through community-based skills training and community empowerment.
“Collaboration with the Education Ministry is in place to conduct a healthy mind programme at 2,343 schools nationwide.
“This is aimed at identifying students’ health status and their stress and depression levels.
“Those who we identify as having these issues will be given counselling and treatment if necessary,” he said.— Additional reporting by TEH ATHIRA YUSOF.