KOTA KINABALU: Families, schools, and local communities must step up to build stronger mental health support systems for young people, says Sabah Minister of Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing Datuk Julita Majungki.
Speaking after officiating a population and mental health seminar at Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic on Saturday (Aug 29), Julita highlighted the vital role parents play in setting boundaries and shaping values—especially regarding uncontrolled mobile phone use.
"People are living in a world that is becoming increasingly busy and noisy, yet paradoxically, increasingly lonely," Julita said, citing worrying national trends among Malaysian youth.
According to data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), adolescent depression in Malaysia surged from 17.7% in 2012 to 26.9% in 2022. Over the same decade, the proportion of youth reporting feelings of loneliness doubled from 8.1% to 16.2%.
Julita stressed that tackling youth mental health requires a multi-sector effort involving religious institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and community groups alongside healthcare professionals.
"As parents, we do not necessarily know how to deal with every problem. We also need guidance to strengthen our knowledge and ability to address challenges within the family," she noted.
To expand state-level support, Julita announced that Sabah is working closely with the Ministry of Health under the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat-Sabah Maju Jaya (ANMS-SMJ) initiative, alongside efforts to bolster Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) teams.
She urged all sectors of society to listen to young people, dismantle the lingering social stigma around mental health, and foster an environment where youth feel safe seeking help.
