Mental disorders afflict 21% of Malaysians

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty-one per cent of Malaysians have mental disorders as a result of the pressures of life, and the figure is rising.
According to clinical psychologist Mahadir Mohamad, based on a survey from 1995 to 2000, depression topped the list, followed by psychosis, and drug and alcohol-related mental disorders.
“Based on year 2000 statistics by the Public Health Institute (Disease Burden Department), 108,324 people suffered depression.
“Those between the ages of 30 and 59 were most affected by this disease, and the figure is rising by the year,” he said at a forum on recognising mental health and illness organised by KL Clinical Psychology Counselling Centre here yesterday.
He said anxiety was also a form of mental disorder, with 33,714 people diagnosed with it.
Mahadir, who works for the Health Ministry, said 24,647 people were diagnosed with psychosis. Alcohol and drug-related mental disorders accounted for 21,441 and 27,522 people respectively.
“One of the main reasons for mental disorder is the pressures caused by life, love and marital problems.
“Many are not aware that they are suffering from such a disease because they refuse to spend money to get professional help,” he said.
He said that based on statistics, in the year 2000 there were 319 deaths caused by mental disorders. Drug-related mental disorders topped the list with 187 deaths, followed by depression with 94, psychosis (eight) and alcohol-related mental disorders (30).
“These figures were only reported cases, what about those that went unreported?”
He added that there was insufficient publicity on mental illnesses to warn the masses of this silent killer.
“Some of them don’t even know that they have a mental illness, and also there is a social stigma that when you see a shrink, you are deemed insane.
“This perception is wrong and those who feel that they have a mental illness should come forward to get counselling from any government clinic before it becomes acute,” he added.
KL Clinical Psychology Counselling Centre director Ray M.K. Choo said people are ready to seek professional help.
He said his company charged RM130 for an hour’s session and that many were willing to spend money on mental health.
“We have had hundreds of patients since this company was opened five years ago, and the awareness among urban people is on the rise.
“This awareness is good for society.”