KOTA KINABALU: Annually, there are about 32,000 to 34,000 mental health patients seeking treatment at various facilities offering psychiatric services in Sabah, according to Sabah Mental Association president Rizal Osoi.
Stigma remains a challenge faced by those suffering from mental illnesses, and the friends and families of these persons, he said this when met after the launch of a public seminar on ‘Celebrating World Mental Health Day’ at Sabah Oriental Hotel, Karamunsing.
“The responsibility of addressing these issues not only lie in the government but also we as the, non-governmental organizations, are providing complementary activities,” Rizal added.
Meanwhile, he said that it is expected that by 2030, Malaysia will be in the category of ageing nations with older persons constituting 15% of the population.
He urged the local community to take a look at an emerging trend of maltreatment of ageing adults and address the issue of long-term care for older people.
Rizal remarked that mental health problems such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression are associated with the ageing group’s physical health.
Click on the link below to read the full article
Category(s):Mental Health in Asia
Source material from The Borneo Post
