Kota Kinabalu: Families, schools, and communities must play a greater role in strengthening mental health support networks for young people, said Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Julita Majungki.
Speaking at a state-level World Population Day mental health seminar at Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic, she said families in particular are crucial in shaping values and setting boundaries against challenges like uncontrolled mobile phone use.
Citing National Health and Morbidity Survey data, Julita noted that adolescent depression in Malaysia rose from 17.7 per cent in 2012 to 26.9 per cent in 2022, while reported feelings of loneliness doubled from 8.1 per cent to 16.2 per cent over the same period.
She stressed that tackling youth mental health cannot rely on the healthcare sector alone, calling on religious bodies, non-governmental organisations, and communities to help reduce stigma and support vulnerable youth.
The state is also expanding mental health initiatives through collaboration with the Ministry of Health under the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat-Sabah Maju Jaya framework and bolstering Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services teams.
