THE Academy of Medicine Malaysia’s Chapter of Psychiatry was formed in 2018 to spread awareness of mental health. It has been active in its call to repeal or amend Section 309 of the Penal Code to decriminalise suicide, as well as its endeavour to prioritise Covid-19 vaccination for patients with severe mental illnesses, and is now committed to aligning with the themes of Mental Health Day 2021 on Oct 10 to reach out to all levels of society by making mental health services more accessible.
The World Federation of Mental Health’s theme of “Mental Health in an Unequal World” and the World Health Organisation’s theme of “Mental Health for All: Let’s Make It a Reality” both emphasise the importance of empowering primary care and general practitioners (GPs) in assessing and managing common mental health problems, especially in regions where specialist psychiatric services may be less available.