There has been a recent surge of interest in mental health in Malaysia over the past decade.
You won’t have to search that far into your Instagram feeds to find a post about therapy, self-care and other posts related to prioritising your psychological wellbeing.
This growing trend is largely thanks to social media. Activists and advocates using their considerable platform to spread awareness of mental health.
For those of us struggling with depression, stress, trauma, suicidal thoughts and anxiety, this may seem like a small step towards a brighter future. We’d like to believe there is less stigma, more accessibility and better help for those who struggle with mental health issues.
But reality and expectation rarely coincide.
In 2019 alone, Malaysia recorded a whopping total of 609 suicide cases involving youths between the ages of 15 and 19. Another survey found that over half a million Malaysians are suffering from depression. Around 400,000 from that number are children.
These are not small numbers.
Here’s what you need to know about the current state of mental healthcare in Malaysia, and why it needs to change.
Mental Health Awareness in Malaysia
Possibly the largest misconception about mental illness is that it’s only a recent problem. But experts say society has always struggled with depression, anxiety, etc. It’s just that we have more advanced technology and methods now to collect data that has flown under the radar for decades.
They didn’t have surveys and polls back then so it was hard to know for sure how many people suffered from mental illness. More people are now reporting their conditions, hence more voices are being heard as we speak.
But just because we have better statistics now doesn’t mean the country is any better equipped to handle this sudden surge of mental health cases. In fact, according to a research analyst from Penang Institute, Lim Su Lin, the number of patients far outweighs the number of available psychiatrists.
“Since we only have 14 clinical psychologists, a pathetic number, that means we only have about a quarter (0.28) clinical psychologist for every 100,000 population,” said Lim.
Despite overwhelming advocacy and activism on social media, mental healthcare remains unattainable for many people.
So, if awareness isn’t a problem, then what is? Experts propose several theories.
The Malaysian Mental Healthcare Problem
If we were to unpack the entire history of mental healthcare since the founding of Malaysia to present, we would find no shortage of issues.
But it is only in recent years, where the world has become more connected, that we realise just why it’s so hard to find adequate mental healthcare in Malaysia for adults, let alone children.
When it comes to motherhood, mental health is so important especially if you suffer from postpartum depression. For children, aggressive bullying can often lead to trauma.
Accessibility
Getting mental health help is not as cut and dry as going to your nearby clinic for some flu medicine. You may not know which hospitals or clinics offer mental health services. Not to mention the intimidation factor at play.
Dr Bilbir Singh, consultant psychiatrist at KPJ Specialist Centre Ipoh and head of the psychiatry department at Quest International University in Perak, agrees.
According to Dr Bilbir Singh, current improvements in mental healthcare is not enough, especially when it comes to destigmatising mental health.
“This could be due to the attitudes and perceptions of society at large—any individual who has a psychiatric record risks being ‘looked at differently’. They are stigmatised, and this very often comes from their own family members, friends or colleagues—people who have internalised stigma.”
If you’re familiar with Malaysian culture, you’ll know that even if there’s a mental health clinic a hop and skip away from your house, you’ll probably hesitate dropping by for an appointment. Lest you be judged by your parents, neighbours, friends and all the aunties who think you’ve lost your marbles.
Even some hospitals still use archaic terms like Rumah Sakit Jiwa as if mental health isn’t already a taboo subject.
Affordability
A problem that falls under the same category as accessibility is affordability. Probably an obvious issue is that many Malaysians can’t afford mental health treatment.
Moreover, very few companies offer mental health as part of their employee insurance plan. So, whatever therapy you’re looking for will have to come from your own bank account.
“The government should realise that mental health is also important, especially during these unusual post-pandemic times, and the government should be speaking with the insurance companies to provide such coverage,” said Synthia Surin, regional director of the International College of Clinical Hypnotherapy Practitioners Asia.
For now, adequate and quality mental health services are currently reserved for the privileged and the elite. Those who can afford to go to private clinics and therapy centres, which can easily cost upwards of RM100 per session.
Moreover, good, affordable mental healthcare are so few and far between. Even government hospitals, while affordable, have a problem with manpower.
This usually means that, at least for non-emergency cases, you probably won’t get an appointment for at least 2 to 3 weeks.
As far as mental health services go, government clinics are your best bet. Many of them don’t cost more than RM5 per session and per every consecutive session.
However, referrals to private clinics may mean that you have to pay a little more.
Availability
The lack of manpower is a seldom talked-about barrier to mental healthcare. There is currently a surplus of people looking for treatment and not enough counsellors to attend to them.
When it comes to hiring qualified counsellors, there is also a lot of red tape and gatekeeping going around.
Peter Soo, a registered LKM counsellor with a PhD in counselling from the United States and over 10 years’ experience says that LKM (Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia) has stringent regulations about giving out counselling licenses.
“Even though there is an urgent need, many who have graduated with counselling degrees from overseas universities are still finding it hard to be licensed and registered as counsellors. One must graduate from the prescribed list of universities to be recognised as a counsellor by LKM,”
So, in reality, we have no shortage of qualified people who can provide quality counselling to Malaysians. The problem is apparently institutional in nature.
Those with adequate training found it hard to find accreditation locally by the Malaysian government solely based on the fact they did not graduate from a list of ‘approved’ universities.
Hence, more unnecessary red tape that is making it harder for Malaysians to get adequate mental healthcare.
Make Mental Health Care More Accessible
People have blamed mental illness on genetics, gender, food, and even social media. But the systemic and societal are widely ignored.
Disenfranchised and underprivileged individuals are likely to experience more stress from high cost of living, unfair wages, financial troubles, racist/sexist policies and many other obstacles that prevent someone from living a secure and happy life.
The same applies to children and teens. They may be experiencing bullying, peer victimisation, substance abuse, eating disorders and many other conditions that go undetected.
It’s just as important to deal with the underlying issues as it is to provide mental health treatment.
Malaysia is full of mental health activists whose only contribution is spreading awareness. A small step in the right direction, but hardly sufficient.
There needs to be massive overhauls in current government policies to ensure an easier, more accepting environment for Malaysians to receive adequate mental health treatment.
But until that time, we can only rely on support groups and NGOs who are working tirelessly to bring awareness of mental healthcare to the masses.
Our only hope is that if you do struggle with depression, trauma, etc, don’t hesitate to reach out to these support groups like the Malaysian Mental Health Association or MMHA. They can recommend you resources and clinics within your vicinity that you can go to for treatment.
You can also go to any government hospital that offers mental health services.
Your mental health is as precious and important as your physical health. And despite all the problems highlighted in this article, adequate help does exist.
So, whether you’re a parent, or have a child who may be struggling, don’t hesitate to get help. It may just save your life.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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