KUALA LUMPUR: Mental health issues among children and adolescents aged between 5 and 15 recorded a two-fold increase in 2023.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat, based on the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), mental health issues in the age category increased from 7.9 per cent (424,000 individuals) in 2019 to 16.5 per cent (922,318 individuals) last year.
"This is a two-fold increase," he said in a parliamentary written reply.
He said this in response to Datuk Dr Zulkaferi Hanapi (PN-Tanjung Karang) who asked about the latest data on mental health cases among children and adolescents in the country, as well as plans to address the issue.
Dr Dzulkefly said, in line with the Malaysia Madani concept, the responsibility to address mental health issues among children and adolescents should be collectively shared by various parties.
He added, however, that the ministry remains committed to addressing the issue through inter-agency cooperation and integrated efforts, particularly to ensure good mental health among children.
He also said the ministry was currently developing a Children and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) action plan which focuses on promoting, preventing and providing mental health care for them.
"This includes educational activities, empowering parents, peers and local community leaders, as well as expanding mental health services targeting children and adolescents through digital platforms.
"Other efforts include the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH) to act as the leading agency for coordinating and implementing mental health activities and programmes, including those for children and adolescents.
"The ministry also strives to increase the number of child and adolescent psychiatrist specialists to 30 by 2027 as there are currently only 18 in the ministry's hospitals," he said.
It was reported previously that cases of adolescents suffering from depression in Malaysia have increased, with one in four adolescents suffering from depression in 2022, compared to one in five in 2019.
