PETALING JAYA: Accessible and affordable mental health treatments are needed for young Malaysians, as more are suffering in silence from family and academic pressure, say mental health experts and youths.
A university student who is diagnosed with moderate depression disorder said teenagers often face burdens that are imposed on them by their surroundings or family.
“Effective communication and understanding between teenagers and the people around them are crucial,” said the 23-year-old.
Many of her peers struggle due to the pressure to excel in their studies or a toxic family environment.
However, she said that services offered at government hospitals and clinics in various areas are very affordable, making them accessible to many.
She compared her treatment fees at a private clinic, which cost RM260, to treatment fees at government clinics, which is only RM1 per session.
“However, the follow-up sessions at government clinics are infrequent, which might hinder consistent progress for some individuals,” she said.
On Wednesday, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said that the nearly one million young Malaysians facing mental health issues are becoming a wake-up call for a comprehensive action plan in 2025.
Trainee counsellor Yoo Min Jie, 24, said she noticed that many schools have too few counsellors for the sheer number of students.
“For those who are willing to seek help, existing services should be better and more accessible for them,” she said.
Psychology student Lee Sher Ee, 18, said in the past, mental health issues were likely under-reported due to stigma and misdiagnosis.“There’s no doubt that social media is taking up importance in teenagers’ lives by being a huge influence on their social life.
“Toxic behaviour is normalised online, which influences how teenagers treat themselves and each other in real life,” she said.
She also noted that it may take a long period of time to be able to effectively to improve one’s mental health, but many teenagers are unable to afford prolonged therapy due to the costly fees.
Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology president Dr Joel Low said providing mental health help through community clinics makes it more approachable.
“Instead of going to a big hospital for treatment, decentralising the services to community clinics will make it more accessible and available to people,” he said.
He also stressed the need to better educate the public about mental health.
“Even with the best doctors, if one is not aware about the need for help, any increased effort to improve it will not be useful,” he said.
He added that he noticed more youth seeking help for mental health issues since the pandemic, though this could also be due to increased awareness.
School counsellor Stephanie Cheah said mental health issues among youth often arose from a combination of family struggles, societal pressures, social media, poor coping skills and isolation.
“It’s ironic that while we live in a more connected world, there’s a lack of meaningful connection.
She said that organising more counselling, emotional literacy and workshops in schools while promoting family therapy and parenting support can help to improve youth mental health.
