"Stop Stigmatization!" - New Initiative By MOH Combats Mental Health Issues In Malaysia

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During the opening speech, Health Minister Dr. Zaliha Mustafa emphasized that mental health issues are a global concern and a significant challenge to the health sector.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a 25 percent increase in depression and anxiety rates, affecting over 1 billion individuals with mental health problems.

Therefore, this campaign will encompass mental health advocacy activities for the public through various platforms," she said.

During the event, organizers welcomed more than 3,000 attendees throughout the day, starting from 7 am, to participate in the Senaminda Vaganza activity, a practical exercise demonstration aimed at promoting mental health.

Later at 10 a.m., Dr. Zaliha Mustafa launched the Stop Stigmatization Mental Health campaign.

"I hope that all Malaysians can come together to end the stigma and negative perceptions towards individuals facing mental health issues.

The implementation of this campaign aims to enhance the mental health literacy of the public in an effort to deal with the stigma and discrimination against those with mental health conditions," she stated.

The montage highlighted the National Health and Morbidity Study (NHMS) of 2019, which estimated that 500 thousand Malaysians aged 18 and above were experiencing depression.

In 2022, the same study revealed that one in four teenagers experienced depression, one in eight had considered suicide, and one in ten had attempted suicide.

"I view trends like these with great concern and apprehension. Therefore, I hope that a comprehensive effort involving all stakeholders can be implemented to ensure that mental health issues are given serious attention and can be effectively addressed," she added.

For the record, MOH's efforts in addressing mental health challenges in Malaysian society include providing mental health services in four mental health institutions, 62 hospitals, 34 Mental Health Community Centers (MENTARI), one psychiatric nursing care home, and 1,080 health clinics nationwide.

Furthermore, the national mental health agenda is being strengthened through the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH) through strategic collaboration between public agencies, private entities, and NGOs.

During this celebration, MOH launched several modules to enhance the competency of authorities in handling mental health issues, ultimately achieving better mental health levels in the community. These include the Training Module on Suicide Prevention First-Line Responders, the Training Module on Mental Health for Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS), and the introduction of MyMinda as a new component in the MySejahtera application.

Previously, MOH organized a Short Video Contest themed 'Safe and Responsible Media Reporting on Suicide Behavior,' with over 50 participants in collaboration with the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH), the Malaysian Mental Care Association (MeCaRE), and AWAS Malaysia (ZuriatCARE Foundation).

The goal of this short video contest is to raise awareness among Malaysians to use media responsibly when addressing issues related to suicide, emphasizing sensitivity, reporting to the responsible authorities, and suggesting individuals with mental health issues seek help through emotional support helplines such as the Heal Line at 15555.Visitors were also entertained with performances by artists including Alif Satar & The Locos, Amir Jahari, and Battery Head Percussion.

Additionally, a special segment featured a Musical Ted Talk hosted by Dr. Nurashikin Ibrahim alongside singer Aina Abdul, discussing how music can serve as therapy for mental health.