KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need to address the misunderstandings, misperceptions and stigma associated with mental health issues, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam.
He noted that spiritual and cultural elements used to underlie the public perception of factors and causes of mental illnesses. For this reason, he said, psychotic experiences were often communicated as influenced by supernatural forces ( like ‘saka’), split personality or a misconception of depression.
“Therefore, some people prefer to seek the help of ‘sami’ and ‘bomoh’ rather than the professionals to overcome mental illness,” Dr Subramaniam said. He said this when opening the 8th Congress of the Asian Society For Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (ASCAPAP) and the 19th Malaysian Conference of Psychological Medicine (MCPM) here yesterday.
The minister said the public should be aware about the presence of mental health professionals like psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and counsellors in their communities.
He also said acquiring appropriate knowledge would aid the public in their awareness and skills acquisition of mental health issues in order to assist those suffering from mental ill health. “This will empower people to appropriately help those who face mental health difficulties,” he added. — Bernama