SHAH ALAM, March 15 — The Selangor government is committed to working towards overcoming and preventing mental illness within the community.
Its Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said that the state administration had allocated RM1 million for mental illness awareness and prevention programmes for this year.
“Mental health is fundamental to the well-being of individuals as well as of the community.
“However, mental illness is expected to be the second biggest health issue affecting Malaysians after heart disease by 2020.
“The Selangor government is committed to working together to overcome and prevent mental illness and has provided RM1 million for awareness and prevention programmes,” he wrote on his Instagram, yesterday.
According to the 2015 National Health Morbidity Survey, 29 per cent of the Malaysian population suffered from depression and anxiety disorder.
The prevalence of mental health issues varies by state, with Kuala Lumpur recording 40 per cent, or two out of five individuals, and the lowest incidence in Perak at 17 per cent.
