13.7 Per Cent Of M'sian Youths Suffer From Mental Problems

PETALING JAYA, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- About 13.7 per cent of Malaysian youths, especially students, suffer from mental problems that could lead to suicide, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek.
He said stress from study and heartbreaks were among the factors affecting their mental health that led to depression, anxiety and insomnia and that could also drive them to commit suicide.
"Most youths with mental health issues are influenced by life's events like a failed relationship or failing to meet their parents' academic achievement standards, prompting them to consider suicide."
The text of his speech was read by the ministry's Family Health Development director Datuk Dr Narimah Awin at the opening of a mental health seminar held in conjunction with the National World Health Day 2006, here Wednesday.
The seminar was attended by some 200 administrators from primary schools in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Chua said according to a study, there was an average of seven suicidal cases a day in the country, with the annual 2,000 deaths due to mental problems compared with one million cases a year worldwide.
He also revealed that 10 per cent of the Malaysian population suffered from mental disorders, and the percentage was expected to rise every year.
He said the deterioration in mental health of an individual was influenced by specific elements like self-respect, behaviour, the ability to react to the surroundings like socio-economy, social support and the physical conditions of a person's residence, he said.
To prevent students from becoming suicidal, teachers must encourage the students to take care of their mental health besides being able to detect the illness from the early stage, he added.
The seminar was also held in conjunction with the World Mental Health Day, held on Oct 10 every year with the objective of creating awareness on mental health apart from correcting the community's perception towards mental patients.