SHAH ALAM, June 19 — More than a quarter of adolescents in Malaysia are experiencing symptoms of depression, raising growing concerns over the mental health of young people.
Selangor Public Health Executive Councillor Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) found that 26.9 per cent of adolescents aged 13 to 17 exhibited symptoms of depression.
She said 13.1 per cent of adolescents had experienced suicidal thoughts, while 9.5 per cent had attempted suicide.
“These figures remind us that adolescent mental health challenges are no longer isolated issues and require serious attention from all parties,” she said during the opening of the PeerZ Adolescent Mental Health Awareness Pilot Programme Carnival.
Emotional pressures faced by young people are becoming increasingly complex, driven by family-related factors, social influences and the challenges of the digital world.
According to Jamaliah, bullying and cyberbullying continue to pose serious threats, affecting students’ mental health and emotional well-being.
“Prolonged stress can affect adolescents’ self-confidence, academic performance and social relationships if not addressed early,” she said.
Jamaliah said many adolescents require help but continue to face barriers in obtaining the support they need.
In the same statement, UNICEF Malaysia stressed that many children and adolescents who need mental health assistance are still not receiving it.
“The situation is caused by social stigma, a lack of awareness and limited access to mental health services,” she added.
In view of this, Jamaliah said awareness and educational initiatives must be strengthened to ensure young people have the confidence to seek help when facing emotional and psychological difficulties.
