The Health November 2023 | Page 8

The mental health action plan for children and adolescents will emphasise governance , legislation review , collaboration across agencies , digitalisation and support services

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THE HEALTH | NOVEMBER , 2023

| Cover Story |

HELP is on the way

The mental health action plan for children and adolescents will emphasise governance , legislation review , collaboration across agencies , digitalisation and support services

BY KHIRTINI K KUMARAN

THE PROPOSED Mental Health Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents , announced by Health Minister Dr Zalihah Mustafa , will encompass three strategic pillars , including promotion , prevention , and responsive care for the mental health of children and adolescents .

The proposed strategies collectively aim to create a comprehensive mental health framework involving various stakeholders , encompassing educational , communitybased , and healthcare approaches . The plan of action also emphasises governance , legislation review , collaboration across agencies , digitalisation , and support services , aiming to provide comprehensive mental health support and care in accordance with children ’ s and adolescents ’ mental health needs .
Ministry of Health ( MoH ) Director- General Datuk Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the action plan will serve as a blueprint policy to achieve comprehensive mental health services for children and adolescents .
“ Mental health is a fundamental dimension of health , and mental health
problems affect not only adults but children and adolescents too .
“ In Malaysia , the National Health and Morbidity Survey ( NHMS ) in 2019 reported overall prevalence of mental health problems among children aged 5-15 years old were 7.9 per cent with estimated 424,000 children affected with mental health problems .”
The 2019 NHMS survey found that children who were at risk of mental health problems were those who were in the older age group ( 10-15 years old ), female , and from rural areas . Children with lower household incomes showed a higher prevalence of mental health problems .
However , the findings were only significant for age group . It was noted that the highest type of mental health problems were peer problems , followed by conduct problems and emotional problems .
According to the NHMS 2022 : Adolescent Health Survey , a nationwide cross-sectional study of secondary school adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years , 26.9 per cent of Malaysian adolescents overall reported having depression . The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in female adolescents , 36.1 per cent in males and 17.7 per cent .
The survey also found that a total of 16.2 per cent of adolescents in Malaysia reported feeling lonely , and 4.2 per cent said that they had no close friends . A total of 12.9 per cent reported being unable to sleep “ most of the time or always ” due to worry in the 12 months prior to the survey . Prevalence of suicidal ideation , plan and attempt were 13.1 per cent , 10.0 per cent , and 9.5 per cent , respectively .
Radzi said that to address this issue , the Ministry of Health , through the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health ( NCEMH ), is engaging with relevant stakeholders to incorporate a holistic , multifaceted approach to developing the Mental Health Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents .
The development of this plan of action involved engagement and inputs from various stakeholders , including technical experts within MoH , mental health consultants from the World Health Organisation ( WHO ), United Nations Children ’ s Fund ( UNICEF ), as well as representatives from other government agencies and Non-Government Organisations .
Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association ( MIASA ) President & Founder Anita Abu Bakar said the surge in mental health issues among juveniles is indeed a pressing concern , and several interconnected factors contribute to this alarming increase .
“ First and foremost , the digital age has ushered in unprecedented levels of connectivity , but it has also brought about challenges such as cyberbullying , online peer pressure , and the constant exposure to unrealistic standards through social media , impacting the mental well-being of young individuals .
“ Furthermore , academic pressures and the competitive nature of educational systems can induce stress and anxiety among juveniles as they grapple with expectations to excel academically .
“ Family dynamics and socio-economic factors also play a pivotal role ; broken families , financial instability , and lack of emotional support at home can contribute significantly to mental health challenges in juveniles .”
STRENGTHENING SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES