KUALA LUMPUR: A clinical psychologist and a human rights activist have poured cold water on the suggestions by Perikatan Nasional (PN) member of parliament for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community to be classified as people with mental health problems.
Relate Mental Health Malaysia founder Dr. Chua Sook Ning questioned if the suggestion made by the opposition MPs was backed by valid scientific evidence.
"It is worth asking whether this suggestion is firstly scientifically valid, and secondly to examine the consequences of this suggestion (intended and unintended). Will it lead to more harm and ill health than good?" Dr Chua told the New Straits Times.
She was asked to comment on the suggestion by PN MPs for the LGBT community to be categorised under those with a mental health disorder.
During a debate on the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 to decriminalise suicide on Tuesday, Pasir Salak MP Jamaluddin Yahya put forth the suggestion, which was supported by Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali.
"So do you agree Kapar (Dr Halimah) with my suggestion that the LGBT community be included under the mental disorder category?" Jamaluddin asked Halimah during her debate.
Dr Halimah, in her reply, said she would include Jamaluddin's suggestion in her speech.
Dr Chua added that there are two main diagnostic manuals for mental illness, namely the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
"In 1973, homosexuality was removed as a mental disorder from the DSM II. We cannot make up our own criteria and diagnoses on our own," she added.
Dr Chua, however, agrees that mental disorder is a huge issue that requires not just the involvement of the Health Ministry but all related ministries.
Lawyer and human rights activist Siti Zabedah Kasim said the proposal to classify LGBT community as those with a mental health disorder was unfounded.
"This is a ridiculous proposal. Why target the community alone? Honestly, I think the MPs in parliament should get their own heads tested for mental health," she said.
"I do not see any other reason other than for political mileage, especially with the upcoming state elections," she said.
The New Straits Times received mixed reactions in a street interview with the public over the matter.
Shahrol Saeffy Ahmad Shatar said MPs are responsible for making suggestions to be debated in the parliament. He added that it would be unfair to reject the idea without allowing the matter to be discussed openly in parliament.
"Maybe the one who proposed the suggestion has a point, where it will then trigger a larger discussion to take place.
"If the matter is not raised, then how can we discuss it?" the 45-year-old teacher said.
B. Lisha, 29, did not agree with the PN MPs when she said that LGBT is not a mental health disorder.
She said the implications of such an unjustified classification towards those who identify as LGBT but do not suffer from any mental health conditions may put individuals at risk of going into depression due to public persecution.
In addition, she said such a narrative will affect opportunities related to job prospects and career growth among those who identify themselves as LGBT.
"In order to diagnose someone, you need to do a thorough mental health assessment.
"I think it is very unfair to simply categorise the community as suffering from mental health disorders," said the lecturer who is also a psychology graduate.
In a social media poll via Twitter by NST as of 9am today, 58 per cent of the respondents did not agree with the rest agree with the suggestion made by the PN MPs.