KUCHING: More attention should be drawn to the mental health of Malaysians, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii yesterday.
The Democratic Action Party (DAP) lawmaker noted that the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 estimated that 2.3 per cent of the country’s population suffered from depression.
This, he said, translated into a figure of approximately half a million people.
“What is more alarming is that it has been reported that 424,000 Malaysian children were found to have mental health problems including anxiety and depression,” he said in a statement in conjunction with the World Mental Health Day 2020 themed ‘Mental Health for All: Greater Investment – Greater Access’.
Dr Kelvin Yii
Dr Yii opined that the current Covid-19 pandemic had unprecedented impact on the mental health of millions and was also expected to exacerbate the situation as a result of anxiety and depression caused by the economic fallouts of the pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO).
According to him, the levels of anxiety, fear, isolation, social distancing and restrictions, uncertainty and emotional distress experienced have become widespread as the world struggles to bring the virus under control and to find solutions.
“As we are at war to flatten the curve of Covid-19 infections, there may be another bomb which is ‘silent mental illness pandemic’ waiting to explode.
“The impact of mental health conditions is not merely a health situation, but it has potential effects against the nation’s economy,” he pointed out.
Dr Yii said in 2018, mental health conditions experienced at workplaces were estimated to cost the country RM14.46 billion.
He said one could not imagine the further economic impact with the increasing of cases expected this year and beyond.
As such, he said he would call for greater investment in mental health especially the need to increase mental health professionals and improve infrastructure and accessibility in the country’s public health system during the Budget parliamentary session next month.
The 2021 Budget is expected to be tabled in Parliament on Nov 6.
“There is an urgent need to ensure investment is prioritised so that Malaysia has adequate capacity to manage both the immediate post-pandemic mental health issues and also to stay vigilant in preparation for possible future mental health crises.”
Dr Yii said he would also push the Parliament to repeal Section 309 of the Penal Code to decriminalise attempted suicide.
He said the government also needed to revive the National Mental Health Registry to ensure comprehensive coverage of mental disorders, regular updates and monitoring, and independence of the registry within the healthcare system.
Apart from that, he said Malaysia is also in need of a National Post-Pandemic Mental Health Plan to address the rise of mental health cases caused by the pandemic and extensive plans to help the country recover both physically and mentally to promote greater productivity.
“Mental health is a human right – it’s time that mental health care is available for all. Only by prioritising greater investment to mental health can we see better accessibility so that all regardless of circumstances, age, socio-economic status, education, gender, culture, race or religion may have access to quality mental healt care.
“Mental health should be seen as an investment rather than an expense. There is no wealth without health, and there is no health without mental health,” added Dr Yii.