KUALA LUMPUR: Distress calls statistics received by government agencies from March 25, 2020 to May 20 this year revealed that 85.5 per cent of the calls were related to mental health issues that require emotional support and counseling.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said they include acute stress, anxiety, depression, abuse and suicidal behaviour.
He said the Health Ministry (MOH) acknowledged that 2020 and 2021 were very challenging years and there was no denying that the people were affected psychologically and emotionally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The causes identified are loss of employment, no source of income, family conflicts, interpersonal relationship problems, stigma and lack of access to aid services.
"Data from MOH, meanwhile, found that in the period from January to December 2020, a total of 1,080 cases of suicide attempts were reported to have received treatment at MOH hospitals," he said in a statement today.
The statistics were received through the Psychosocial Support Helpline established in collaboration with MOH-Mercy MALAYSIA, as well as the helplines of other government agencies such as the KASIH Line under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) and the KSK-Care Line under the Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM).
He said since January 2020, the MOH had activated the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team at the state and district levels to provide emotional support to affected individuals such as COVID-19 patients, frontliners and families who lost family members to COVID-19.
"The MHPSS team consists of public health physicians, family physicians, psychiatrists, psychological officers (Counseling and Clinical), paramedics, medical social officers and occupational rehabilitation officers as well as trained individuals from non-governmental organisations.
Dr Adham said the activities carried out were mental health screening, psycho-education through digitally distributed infographics, psychological first aid (PFA), counselling, treatment and consultation as well as referrals to specialists for cases in need of their services.
In addition, pre-deployment briefings were also given to frontliners as mental preparation before they are mobilised to the field.
Dr Adham said the MOH will continue to implement several initiatives to address growing mental problems such as by intensifying advocacy of the 'Let's TALK Healthy Minds Campaign' and ensuring the implementation of activities of the National Strategic Plan for Mental Health for the next five years.
"Among the strategic plans are to increase the accessibility of mental health services, prevention of violence and substance and alcohol abuse through digital systems and the latest technology in smart collaboration with other government agencies and NGOs.
"The MOH will also improve psychiatry and mental health services through the addition of 40 Community Mental Health Centres (MENTARI) by 2025 (currently 28 centres)," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri May 21 2021
Dr Adham said distress calls statistics received by government agencies from March 25, 2020 to May 20 this year revealed that 85.5 per cent of the calls were related to mental health issues. -- BERNAMA filepic
Vokalis Dewa 19, Virzha kahwin wanita Arab
Salah seorang vokalis Dewa 19, Virzha mengakhiri zaman bujang pada usia 33 tahun.
Krisis iklim: Kanak-kanak antara paling terjejas - UNICEF
Apabila bencana alam berlaku, kanak-kanak lebih terdedah dan berpotensi mengalami kesan yang berpanjangan.
Raja Permaisuri Agong terima menghadap Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British ke Malaysia
Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah hari ini berkenan menerima menghadap Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British ke Malaysia Ailsa Terry di Istana Negara.
Masyarakat Cina bersama meriahkan rumah terbuka UMNO Sandakan
Masyarakat Cina di sekitar Sandakan bwersama memeriahkan dan menikmati juadah di rumah terbuka Aidilfitri anjujran UMNO Sandakan.
Gagasan Bola Sepak Borneo bantu tingfkatkan kualiti pemain Sarawak
Presiden Kuching FA Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman menyambut baik uaha menubuhkan Gagasan Bola Sepak Borneo yang diyakini mampu menggilap kualiti bola sepak di pulau itu.
Terserah Bung Moktar, yang penting khidmat untuk rakyat dulu - Andi
ADUN Tanjung Batu, Datuk Andi Muhamad Suryady Bandy menyerahkan kepada Datuk Seri Bung Moktar untuk memastikan kemenangan UMN O dalan PRN 17 namun pada masa sama berharap perkara mengenai calon dibincang selepas DUN Sabah dibubar.
PRN 17: Pimpinan UMNO Sabah berhak nilai calon terbaik
Ketua Perhubungan UMNO Sabah Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin menegaskan pihaknya bertanggungjawab menetukan calon terbaik untuk mewakili parti itu dalam PRN Sabah ke-17.
Kastam Sarawak rekod rampasan RM816.1 juta
Kastam Sarawak merekodkan peratusan rampasan melebihi unjuran nasional setakat ini.
Jentera cerucuk tumbang, operator hampir maut
Mangsa seorang lelaki warga tempatan berusia 33 tahun ditemui dalam keadaan sedar selepas tersepit hampir dua jam di dalam jentera cerucuk yang tumbang.
Bing kini digunakan lebih 140 juta pengguna setiap hari
Selain Bing, aplikasi Copilot untuk iOS dan Android juga memperlihatkan peningkatan kadar muat turun dari hari ke hari.
Kelaparan akut jejaskan 281.6 juta orang tahun lepas - PBB
Tahap bahaya kelaparan akut menjejaskan 281.6 juta orang tahun lepas, tahun kelima berturut-turut bahawa ketakjaminan makanan semakin memburuk.
Hamilton optimis kedudukan lebih baik di GP China
Lewis Hamilton melihat potensi kedudukan yang lebih baik dalam saingan Grand Prix yang kembali ke China buat pertama kali dalam tempoh lima tahun, hujung minggu ini.
'Selfish!' - Fasha Sandha sedih raya di Perlis tak jadi gara-gara dijangkiti COVID-19
Fasha berkata dia mula melakukan pemeriksaan COVID-19 selepas berasa tidak sihat badan dan mengalami bersin tidak henti sejak Raya pertama.
Kes COVID-19 catat penurunan ketara pada ME 14/2024 - KKM
Jumlah kes COVID-19 menurun 97.1 peratus kepada 493 kes pada Minggu Epidemiologi ke-14 (ME 14/2024) iaitu bagi tempoh 31 Mac hingga 6 April lepas berbanding 17,256 kes pada ME 1/2024.
China jadikan pengalaman pencegahan COVID-19 untuk hadapi pandemik masa depan
China akan menjadikan pengalaman dalam pencegahan dan kawalan COVID-19 untuk membuat persediaan yang lebih proaktif untuk menghadapi pandemik masa depan seperti "Penyakit X".
Negara berdepan ketirisan subsidi diesel serius - Amir Hamzah
Negara kini sedang berdepan isu ketirisan subsidi diesel yang serius dan wujud kemungkinan terdapat pihak yang tidak layak masih menikmati subsidi itu, kata Menteri Kewangan II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah.
Kematian akibat kemalangan jalan raya lebih tinggi daripada COVID-19 - Anthony Loke
PDRM akan mengeluarkan data mengenai kemalangan jalan raya pada setiap hari, bukan setahun sekali seperti diamalkan sebelum ini.
Ismail Sabri ziarah lapan beradik yatim piatu akibat COVID-19
Ismail Sabri tiba kira-kira jam 2 petang di kediaman lapan beradik itu di Taman Adenium, Bukit Beruntung pada Selasa.
Teori konspirasi 'Penyakit X'
Ahli teori konspirasi AS sekali lagi membuat 'keuntungan' selepas PBB memberi amaran tentang wabak lebih berbahaya iaitu 'Penyakit X'.
Reformasi dasar, kukuhkan perlindungan, produktiviti pekerja tidak formal
Reformasi dasar perlu dilakukan dalam usaha meningkatkan perlindungan dan produktiviti pekerja tidak formal di Malaysia.