KOTA KINABALU: The Health Ministry has taken steps to address mental health issues, including the setting up a national strategic plan, for suicide prevention.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, said the plan would cover eight areas.
“They will include mental health promotions, improving early detection of mental disorder and suicide attempts and increase capacity buildings among gate keepers such as doctors, psychiatrists, health care professionals and police.
“We also need to promote more research on suicide behaviour, improve surveillance systems for early detection, promote responsible media reporting on suicide, and enhance efforts to prevent misuse of drugs and poison,” he said after launching the 10th anniversary of World Suicide Prevention Day here yesterday.
Liow said altough the suicide rate in the country was not alarming, there was still reason for concern. According to the minister, 113 cases were reported in 2007, but the number had risen to 425 in 2010
“Only 1.3 per 100,000 of the population committed suicide as compared to countries like Thailand and Hong Kong. But, we need to push the rate lower because the number keeps increasing over the years,” he noted.
According to the minister, 113 cases were reported in 2007, but the number had risen to 425 in 2010. — Bernama