KUALA LUMPUR: The government should set aside allocation to help support efforts in tackling mental health issues in the country under the 2019 Budget, said National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
While commending the government’s initiative to increase the allocation for health services by 7.8 per cent from RM27 billion (last year’s budget) to RM29 billion, Lee said the Health Ministry should also provide allocation for preventive programmes and efforts to combat stigma against those with mental illness.
“We have inadequate resource allocation for mental health. The government and Health Ministry should provide funds especially for treating mental health.
“A special division should be established to beef up the existing mental health unit in the ministry and help implement, and monitor the strategy on mental health development.
“This includes coordinating the psychiatry and primary care services, increasing the number of counsellors at primary health clinics, improving training programmes, developing inter-sectoral anti stigma and health literacy campaigns and enhancing promotion of mental health.
“In Malaysia, pervasive stigma on mental illnesses still exists and studies indicated that 40 per cent of Malaysians would suffer from mental health issues in their lifetime,” he said in a statement issued today.
Lee, who is also the Patron of the Malaysian Psychiatric Association (MPA), said survey by the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2017 on mental health among youths revealed that 29 per cent of adolescents in the country are suffering from depression and anxiety disorder (2017) compared with 12 per cent in 2011.
“The survey shows that one out of five adolescents feels depressed, two out of five feel anxious, 11.12 per cent have suicidal ideation and 10.1 per cent had attempted suicide.
“Another survey done by experts on the prevalence of depression among Malaysians also revealed a 50 per cent increase in the number of depressed patients from 2011 to 2015. Mental illnesses are affecting our workforce including teachers and government servant.
“A study conducted by the Education Ministry last year for example, showed that 4.4 per cent or 2,123 teachers were identified as experiencing moderate stress level while civil servants also achieved an average score in the Malaysia Psychological Wellbeing Index which was conducted in August,” he said, adding that Malaysia only spent about 1.3 per cent of the government health budget on mental health compared to an international average of 2.8 per cent, according to Harvard report in 2015.
Lee, who is the member of the Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council, also said the mental health problems will become the second biggest health problem affecting the people after heart disease by 2020.
Mental health at workplace should also be given due attention as it is expected to be one of the main concerns in the digital era which will affect the productivity of the employees, said Lee.
“This is something not to be taken lightly as according to the Health Ministry’s 2016 Malaysia Health Systems Research, mental health issues leave a large impact on the economy.
“The government and the community at all levels need to address mental illnesses and develop preventive strategies and effective programmes in managing mental wellbeing.
“Mental health should no longer be ignored. On the contrary, it should be given adequate attention and allocation as it could cost the country and employers billions of Ringgit if not properly addressed,” he said.