KUALA LUMPUR – A spate of recent incidents has cast mental health in Malaysia into the spotlight, with some experts saying that stigma and a shortage of health practitioners are stopping individuals from accessing the care they need.

       The parents of a teenager who died after falling from her school building in the capital city on Oct 1 have called for greater awareness of mental health issues among young people.

       They said they did not know how fragile their daughter’s mental state was before she died.

       “We feel guilty and responsible. We didn’t realise how much pressure our daughter was under,” Mr Simon Leong was quoted as saying in Mandarin during a Facebook Live broadcast on Oct 8.

       In another incident, a 49-year-old woman on Oct 9 crashed into a group of university students while driving in north-east Terengganu state, killing three and injuring a fourth. Her husband said she had been experiencing hallucinations, but there were no records of her seeking mental health treatment in the state.

       Terengganu Health Department director Kasemani Embong was quoted by The Star newspaper as saying: “Don’t be ashamed to seek mental health assistance. Our society needs to change its perception of mental illness.”

       Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology president Joel Low highlighted that societal perceptions play a significant role in discouraging help-seeking behaviour.

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       “There’s still the perception that seeking mental health services means you’re ‘crazy’ or that you have ‘no more hope’,” said Dr Low, who is also a clinical psychologist at The Mind Psychological Services and Training. This stigma often pushes individuals to seek alternatives like spiritual treatments, he added.

       Based on Malaysian census data, some 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the Malaysian population requires some form of mental health intervention, he said.

       Dr Ng Yin Ping, a psychiatrist at Pantai Hospital Penang, told The Straits Times many people with mental health issues fear that seeking help would give them a negative medical record that will affect their credibility, employment and ability to buy insurance in future.

       “They could also fear being seen or labelled as inept and incapacitated,” she added.

       Dr Low emphasised the importance of open conversations about mental health.

       “Right now, the best way to help Malaysians at large is to educate as much as we can, to have as many conversations with as many people as we can so that people know that mental health is a thing that we all need to work together to nurture and to grow, and that it’s perfectly OK to not be OK,” he said.

       Describing mental health struggles as akin to physical ailments, Dr Low added: “If you twist your ankle or catch a cold, you wouldn’t hesitate to see a doctor. Yet, for many, acknowledging the need for mental health support feels like an admission of failure.”

       A parent of an individual who suffers from anxiety attacks told ST: “We are reluctant to reveal that they suffer from anxiety attacks, as people might think they would create problems or can’t perform at work.”

       A 46-year-old lawyer who has not sought treatment for mental health issues said she felt her employers would treat her differently if they knew.

       “The minute they know (I am) being treated or diagnosed, I think it would hamper my career progression,” she said.

       Indeed, following Mr Leong’s appearance on Facebook Live, some questioned the appropriateness of discussing such a sensitive matter on social media. But the grieving father said he did it to alert the public and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.

       Another barrier in Malaysia is the lack of mental health professionals.

       With fewer than one psychiatrist for every 100,000 people – far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of one for every 10,000 – access to care is limited, especially in rural areas.

       “Even when you factor in clinical psychologists and counsellors, we’re nowhere near enough to serve the community effectively,” Dr Low lamented.

       For those who do seek help, the process can be daunting. Public facilities which offer services at RM5 (S$1.50) a session can be overburdened and bureaucratic, requiring referrals and long waiting times, sometimes even six months to a year, for a first session.

       Private services, while more accessible, can be expensive, from anywhere between RM200 and RM800 in the Klang Valley.

       Nevertheless, Dr Ng urged those facing mental health issues to seek help or advice from health practitioners to address early symptoms, which can reduce morbidity, prevent complications and increase chances of recovery.

       Said Dr Low: “Reaching out and sharing with others what you’re going through and what’s on your mind helps to lock those negative thoughts down and, in many cases, helps stop them from festering and growing unchecked.”

       Conversations around mental health should be normalised, said Dr Ng, and workplaces should be encouraged to provide support.

       Dr Low added that having more conversations about the issue “would mean greater knowledge and demand, which would then make the supply of mental health professionals grow as well, and it will allow for greater access to all”.

       Dr Ng urged people to refrain from linking bad behaviour to those with mental health issues as this only worsens the stigma and discrimination surrounding such people. On the contrary, she feels that those with mental health challenges have a lot to offer in terms of their insights and experiences on interventions and navigating the journey towards recovery.

       “We need to include those with lived experiences in planning interventions,” she added.