THIS year's World Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated this year with a slightly different atmosphere as the Covid-19 challenge has yet to end, coupled with the recent Covid third wave in Malaysia which started in line with the beginning of many programs organized for this month.
The theme of this year's celebration, Mental Health for All is also in line with this epidemic phenomenon that affects almost everyone in diverse circumstances. In addition to the direct impact on physical health, this epidemic also has an indirect impact on human social well-being and mental health.
Global statistics have shown an increase in cases of psychological stress, depression, anxiety, acts of self-harm and domestic violence during this period. In addition, a World Health Organization (WHO) study involving 130 countries also reported that more than 60 per cent of psychiatric and mental health services were directly affected by this epidemic.
These include postponement of appointments and therapies, lack of resources, patient logistics issues, finances and services that cannot meet current needs. This indirectly reminds us of a fact that has long been mentioned, namely about the lack of resources in mental health services that need to be taken seriously. The country's ability to cope with the complications of this epidemic in terms of mental health must be enhanced so that it is in line with the needs in the field.
We are aware of the mental health status of Malaysians that need serious attention. The prevalence of mental problems has tripled from 10.7 percent (1996) to 29.2 percent (2016). Depression and anxiety are among the contributors to the issue of disability here. Not only that, mental health problems in the workplace have a significant economic burden on Malaysia, where as much as RM14.46 billion had to be borne due to the implications of mental problems in the workplace in 2018.
Even so, human resources for this field are still in critical condition. This can be seen from the rate of a psychiatrist per 100,000 Malaysians. To understand this from public health perspective, for example, with a prevalence of 8 per cent of cases of depression, this means that for depression alone, an estimated 1.6 million adult Malaysians suffer from depression - far more than the capacity of existing psychiatrists.
In addition, we also have a shortage of clinical psychologists and counselors in the public sector. Sadly, the budget specifically for mental health is only RM344.82 million which is only one percent of the overall national health budget.
For this, we want to highlight a few suggestions for some aspects that need to be given priority. Among them, the issue of adolescent mental health - especially school students. This is important as a preventative measure as 50 percent of cases of mental problems start before the age of 14 years.
The government should consider creating a one-stop center such as the MENTARI concept for adolescents, collaborating with the Ministry of Education to create emotional management modules for more intensive students, working with the Ministry of Women and Family Development for parenting psychology courses for young families and the Islamic Religious Department through pre-marital courses.
In addition, mental health issues in the workplace should also be given attention. Among those that can be recommended is the creation of more counsellor positions in government departments such as Federal and State Government agencies to help staff who suffer from stress.
We also need better mental health networks in the community for the purpose of prevention and treatment in the community as well as rehabilitation to improve patients' ability to return to society. For example, by increasing the capacity of more Health Clinics to hold a mobile team to provide home-based services to patients.
We also need to increase the empowerment of online counselling services by creating a more integrated, g
ove
rnment-funded 24-hour Acute Crisis Center that can communicate directly with local and regional mental health services. This includes increasing access to those coming from remote areas such as the interior by reducing the service gap. The use of online services will indirectly increase their access to treatment behind logistical constraints.
Covid-19 should make us aware of the importance of mental health in facing the short-term and long-term implications of this transmission. We all must play our roles in helping to improve access and increase investment in the mental health sector.
Cooperation from the community, the private and non-governmental organizations will fulfill the inspiration and hope from the theme of this year's World Mental Health Month theme, 'Mental Health for All'.
The writer is a physiatric specialist at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM); Deputy President, Ikatan Pengamal Perubatan dan Kesihatan Muslim Malaysia (I-Medik) and Vice Chairman, Pahang Mental Health Club (PAMHEC)