KL records high numbers of depression and anxiety
NAZRIN ZULKAFLI DIANA AZIS08 Mar 2023 12:24pm
Health Minister, Dr Zaliha Mustafa - FILE PIC
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Health Minister, Dr Zaliha Mustafa told the Dewan Rakyat that this follows a screening conducted by the Health Ministry in 2022 on 336,900 individuals.
"And in the results, we found that the state with the highest number of depression cases and extreme anxiety is Kuala Lumpur.
"It seems that people here have many problems," she said in response to an additional question from Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) who wanted to know which state recorded the highest number of people facing these mental health problems
Zaliha added that one of the reasons why residents in Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest number of depression cases was because of the high cost of living and the high number of those in the B40 category.
According to Zaliha, other factors include relationship problems with parents, peers and spouses.
"As an example of a relationship problem is pressure from parents who want their child to become a minister, so this creates stress and pressure in the child," she told the August house.
She said the Health Ministry has taken various measures to overcome mental health problems experienced by the community, especially for target groups which include teenagers, the youth and the elderly.
Zaliha said a total of 1,161 health clinics, 58 hospitals, 34 community mental health centers (MENTARI), and four mental institutions are available and are equipped for prevention, early detection and rehabilitation of mental health afflictions.
She said the Health Ministry also worked and collaborated with other ministries,namely the Education Ministry, the Higher Education Ministry, the Youth and Sports Ministry and theWomen, Family and Community Development Ministry.
"We have also implemented the 'Let's Talk Minda Sihat' Campaign which is a 'smart partnership' involving government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in promoting mental health care."
Zaliha said the ministry was also currently developing a Dementia Action Plan to meet dementia health care needs.
"The mental health component is also contained in the 2023-2030 Elderly Health Service Action Plan which is being updated," she said.
