MENTAL healthcare in Malaysia is being treated like a luxury when it should be a lifeline to the people concerned. I’m saying this because I have seen many Malaysians struggling with the silent and painful burden of dealing with mental illness.
We hear slogans like “Mental health matters”, but the reality is it feels like an option only for those who can afford mental healthcare. Access to comprehensive treatment remains out of reach for many people. Private therapy, for example, can cost up to RM200 per session. This is almost half of what some families spend on food for a week. Meanwhile, public clinics are overwhelmed, and the wait for one session can take months.
