KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Health Ministry's psychosocial support hotline received more than 43,000 calls between the introduction of the movement control order (MCO) on March 18 and Dec 1, says Datuk Seri Adham Baba.
"Among the problems often heard include the loss of jobs, the loss of sources of income, family conflicts and relationship problems," he told the Dewan Negara on Wednesday (Dec 16).
The Health Minister said that the counselling service via telephone is given by a team of psychologists who are specially trained to providing psychological first aid to help those in need.
He added that the service run in partnership with Mercy Malaysia is aimed at helping society to manage mental health, especially parents who have special needs children.
He was replying to a question from Senator Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi who asked about the efforts the ministry was taking to tackle psychological and mental problems faced by parents, especially those who have children with disabilities.
Explaining further, Dr Adham said the ministry was implementing various other efforts in providing psychosocial support to parents with children with disabilities, among them setting up mental health and psychosocial support teams in each district, besides developing mental health and psycho-education materials.
"Medical outreach is also being undertaken to get children with disabilities and their guardians to come to Community Based Rehabilitation Centres," said Dr Adham.
He added that committee members at each centre are also giving advice, guidance and sharing their expertise with the children and their parents, saying that this also covers mental health.
Dr Adham also said that the government is also providing the Talian Kasih 15999 and Talian Khas Kaunseling Covid-19 hotlines via the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to ensure that the mental health of Malaysians is always at a stable level. - Bernama
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