KOTA KINABALU: Mental well-being must be seen as a collective responsibility, forming the backbone of a healthy and balanced society, said Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (pic) on Monday.
Speaking at the Regional Webinar on Psychological and Spiritual Well-being 2025 hosted by Ipdas, Arifin stressed the link between community wellness and a stable psychological foundation.
He cited 2022 Health Ministry data showing alarming rates of depression (26.9 per cent), loneliness (16.2 per cent), and suicidal thoughts (13.1 per cent) among Malaysian teenagers, calling it a national concern requiring urgent integrated action.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});Arifin argued that psychology and spirituality must be addressed together, warning that neglecting one undermines the other and weakens community resilience.
He said mental health is a core element of the Sabah Maju Jaya plan, aligning with national Madani efforts to embed emotional and spiritual well-being into development policies.
