Materia Medica Malaysiana

Ministry plans mental health module

IPOH: The Health Ministry is formulating a module emphasising the promotion, early diagnosis, rehabilitation and treatment of the increasing number of people with mental problems.

Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the module would give the Government a clearer direction in the development of the mental health programme.

A study conducted eight years ago showed that 10.7% of Malaysian adults suffered some form of mental problems.

The problem was prevalent among people aged 50 and above, with Indians topping the list followed by the Chinese and Malays.

“What we are more worried about is that those affected are mostly single mothers and divorcees.

“We hope to have a module that will outline the appropriate strategies, objectives and activities to address the problem in future,” he told reporters after opening the Fifth Perak Mental Health Convention at a hotel here yesterday.

Dr Chua said the National Mental Health Committee, headed by the ministry’s director-general, had been tasked with formulating the module.

He said the ministry would strengthen and consolidate the psychiatric and community mental health services in all government hospitals and health clinics in dealing with the problem.

“We are looking at setting up halfway homes for the mentally ill to help them over the period between full institutional care and their discharge,” he said.