KUCHING: It is time for more public awareness on mental health issues and time to remove the social stigma attached to mental health to prevent more deaths through suicides, said Kuching MP Dr Kevin Yii.
He disclosed that there were about 800,000 suicide cases in the world yearly and suicide was the second highest cause of deaths for youths between 15 and 29.
“In Malaysia, for the last four years, more than 2,000 people including a large number of youths, died by suicide,” he added.
“Sarawak has the fourth highest number of mental health sufferers in the nation after Sabah, Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur. In the state, 41.9 percent of the mental health sufferers are from the higher socio economic group.”
Yii said although that the number of psychiatrists in Malaysia had increased, the ratio of psychiatrists to the total population in the country in 2016 was 1.1:100,000 against the recommended ratio of 31:100,00.
“The ratio of clinical psychologists to the total population is even lower — 0.29:100,000 — when the recommended ratio is 50:100,000,” he said.
According to Yii, there are only 22 psychiatrists in government hospitals and only two clinical psychologists in the whole of Sarawak.
“In Kuching, there are 10 specialist psychiatrists in government hospitals and four in the private sector providing for the need of a population of about 750,000,” he added.
Yii pointed out that the increased number of psychiatrists in Sarawak was still insufficient because of the growing number of people suffering from mental health.
“On top of that, there are still a lot of taboos surrounding the topic and many members of the public are not willing to seek help and go to the hospitals for fear for being judged and perceived as “being crazy.”
“There is also a need for more clinical psychologists in Sarawak to complement the psychotherapy given by the psychiatrists so that patients can get better and more holistic treatments to address their issues,” he added.
Yii advised the people to seek help early,
“It is not a weakness to seek for help even in matters of mental health. Do not think you are weak or being dramatic.”
“Many are suffering in silence and do not get the help they desperately need. If you hear people say that they want to die, be alert as it is a cry for help. Take such threats seriously by reaching out to them,” added the MP.
“Three in ten adults are said to be suffering from mental health in Malaysia. That is an alarming figure,” said Yii.
“I have debated extensively in Parliament on the need to upgrade the Sentosa Hospital here. The deputy health minister will be coming to Sarawak soon to see what more can be done to help the hospital,” he revealed.
