LETTERS: In Malaysia, an invisible epidemic is silently spreading among our youth — one that urgently calls for intervention.
This refers to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, which shows one in five Malaysians aged 16 and above suffers from mental health issues.
This is especially prevalent among vulnerable groups and young lawbreakers. They face multiple stressors: poverty, discrimination, trauma and social isolation, putting them at higher risk of developing long-term mental health problems.
This was all before the Covid-19 pandemic spread worldwide. If anything, things have only escalated since.
The 2022 survey by the International Islamic University Malaysia involving 960 Malaysian youth aged between 10 and 19 revealed startling trends.
The results showed that almost one in two adolescents experienced anxiety symptoms, and one in three adolescents experienced stress and depressive symptoms.
This is an increase of 10 per cent in depression and anxiety, and 20 per cent in stress levels, compared with the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2017.
The survey found that inadequate diagnosis and treatment led to negative outcomes such as poor classroom attendance, low academic performance and other socio-behavioural issues.
In addition, the prevalence of suicidal tendencies has surged, with loneliness affecting a significant portion of our youth population. Other clinical diagnoses such as mood disorders and eating disorders add to the unseen mix affecting our social fabric.
More recently, Yayasan Hasanah convened mental health advocates, educators, and non-governmental organisations to discuss challenges and opportunities in tackling the mental health crisis among Malaysian youths.
Two key takeaways from that session are that mental health begins at home and that there is a need to collaborate to remove barriers to mental health services.
Contrary to popular belief, there is a growing awareness of the importance of children's and adolescents' mental health. Efforts to provide support, such as counsellors and peer assistance programmes have improved over the years.
Nevertheless, we must acknowledge that mental health begins within the family. There are gaps in adequately supporting parents, however.
They often lack the education about the unique challenges their children face and the essential communication skills to address these issues effectively.
Moreover, in the Malaysian context, the heightened expectations for academic achievement from parents can create added pressure that negatively impacts mental health.
It is crucial to empower parents with the knowledge and skills required to understand their children, and foster a compassionate home environment with clear and effective two-way communication.
As a mother of teenage children, I am also witnessing the evolving skills required in parenting, especially as we navigate today's digital age. Multiple generations go to bed with our devices; scrolling social media, news and notifications never cease.
While technology improves quality of life in many ways, it is also worthwhile to consider these contexts in the new paradigm of parenting. Having said that, awareness programmes and mindful parenting are not enough. We need to collaborate to remove barriers to mental health services.
While awareness programmes are valuable, they must be accompanied by clinical and community-based interventions to address the hidden challenges that often remain undisclosed.
This is crucial to bridging the gap between existing programmes and the real-life experiences of individuals at the grassroots level.
Overcoming the barrier of parental support and consent for young people to access mental health resources requires the implementation of appropriate policies and pathways.
It is essential to navigate the process ethically, ensuring that boundaries are not crossed while providing youth with the help they need.
DATUK SHAHIRA AHMED BAZARI
Trustee and managing director, Yayasan Hasanah, Shah Alam, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times