The incidence of mental illnesses in Malaysia is on the rise, necessitating an urgent need to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of mental healthcare services to tackle this issue.
This news article based on a study published in BJPsych Int provides new insights into the existing legal framework and the obstacles faced in providing mental healthcare and treating mental illnesses in Malaysia.
Malaysia, located in Southeast Asia, is a diverse country with a population that has grown from 28.5 million in 2010 to 32.6 million in 2020. The majority of its people are of indigenous Malay descent (69.3%), while the remaining population is made up of Chinese (22.8%) and Indian (6.9%) ethnicities, with minority groups representing 1% of the population. Urban areas house 25.3 million people, while rural areas have a population of 7.3 million.
the prevalence of mental disorders among adults was 29%, which is three times higher
As an upper-middle-income country, Malaysia has made significant strides in its mental health system due to policy reforms implemented over the past decade. These efforts have been ongoing since the development of the Lunatic Ordinance of Sabah in 1951 and have continued with the more recent implementation of Mental Health Acts.
The median age of Malaysians is 30.3 years, and their average life expectancy is 73.2 years. With these advancements in mental health care, people can now receive treatment for various illnesses and live healthier lives.
The burden of mental disorders in Malaysia
According to the Malaysian Ministry of Health’s 2015 epidemiological data, the prevalence of mental disorders among adults was 29%, which is three times higher than the 10% prevalence rate identified in 1996.
The rural region of East Malaysia had the highest prevalence of mental disorders at 43%, followed by the capital Kuala Lumpur, where 40% of the population met the criteria for a mental disorder. These findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health concerns in Malaysia.
Over the past decade, Malaysia has experienced a significant rise in the incidence of mental health disorders. This can be attributed to the country’s shift from a middle-income to a high-income economy, resulting in rapid cultural and lifestyle changes due to increased urbanization and globalization, leading to heightened levels of perceived stress.
the cost of mental health issues in the workplace to be RM4.46 billion in 2018
Despite these cultural changes, many Malaysians continue to face economic difficulties, contributing to social issues such as marital separation, changes in traditional parenting practices and family structures, and an increase in substance abuse. Additionally, greater awareness of mental health problems among both the public and healthcare professionals has likely contributed to an increase in the identification and reporting of mental disorders.
According to the 2017 National Health and Morbidity Survey, the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Malaysian adolescents has significantly increased since 2011, when only 1.7 reported such thoughts. The survey also found that suicidal behavior was most common among 13-year-old students, with 10 reporting ideation, nine having a plan, and ten attempting suicide in the previous year. These findings suggest that the transition from primary to secondary school may be a challenging time for these students’ mental health.
In Malaysia, mental illness is a major contributor to disability and health decline, making up 8.6% of total disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). This rise in mental disorders has resulted in a significant economic burden, as evidenced by an economic study that estimated the cost of mental health issues in the workplace to be RM4.46 billion in 2018.
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