KUALA LUMPUR: Some 76% of patients receiving supported employment assistance are still working in the open labour market as of June 2026, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said the figure exceeded the ministry's target of at least 60% and continued an upward trend from 72% in 2023, 72.85% in 2024 and 75% last year.
He also revealed that the national three-month readmission rate for psychiatric patients was 6.32% in 2025, far below the ministry's target of 25% or lower.
“The Health Ministry measures the effectiveness of mental health treatment by assessing the rate of psychiatric patient readmissions to hospitals under the Hospital Performance Indicator for Accountability (HPIA).
“This is because patients receiving high-quality psychiatric treatment should not need to be readmitted to hospital within three months,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during Ministry Question Time on Tuesday (Oct 6).
He noted that the encouraging statistics reflected the ministry's efforts to help patients with mental illness regain independence and return to daily life, including through employment.
“Through Mentari, or Community Mental Health Centres, patients are provided with support such as rehabilitation, psychosocial support and assistance to return to work and live independently.
“Mental health treatment must not only be aimed at reducing symptoms, but also helping patients return to their families and workplaces where appropriate,” he said.
Dzulkefly also explained that mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression, which could be triggered by financial problems, life tragedies, family issues, abuse, violence and bullying.
He said mental health challenges differed from mental illness, which involved disturbances in brain function that could significantly affect a person's thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
“Individuals identified as having a mental illness need treatment and have the right to good mental health.
“They should not be stigmatised as stigma against individuals experiencing mental health challenges and mental illness will prevent them from coming forward to seek help or treatment,” he added.
Dzulkefly was responding to a question from Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah) on what were the indicators to determine the effectiveness of mental health treatment in government institutions.
