A recent statement by a PAS representative has highlighted the need for increased support for mental health among youth in Penang. The representative emphasized that the current measures are insufficient and more needs to be done to address the growing mental health concerns.
Mohamad Shukor Zakariah (PAS–Pulau Betong) told the state legislative assembly that all parties must view this issue seriously and must be managed by all parties.
“According to statistics, the Fire and Rescue Department in Penang received a total 45 emergency calls of suicide attempts and cases on the Penang Bridge in two years,” he said in his speech when debating the Supply Bill today.
He said the Fire and Rescue Department received 26 such calls in 2022 and 19 cases in 2023.
He also noted that a health survey by the health ministry among students aged between 13 and 17 years of age revealed that there was an increase of students facing depression with ideations of suicide.
“There was an increase up to 13.1 per cent in 2022 involving 4,300 students as compared to 10 per cent over the past five years,” he said.
He also referred to an infographic by Bernama in July this year that revealed a total one million Malaysians, or 4.6 pe rcent of the Malaysian population above the age of 16 years old are suffering from depression.
“The statistics also showed that half of these have intention to self-harm or to take the step to die,” he said.
He referred to a recent case in Penang in which a Form Two student fell to her death from the eighth floor of her school where the student left a note that she was facing depression and pressure from her studies.
The call for more support from the PAS representative is a reminder that community and governmental efforts must be coordinated and enhanced to meet the growing needs of youth mental health. Organizations like PgCare Society are stepping up to fill this gap, but broader systemic changes and increased resources are necessary to ensure comprehensive support for mental health among youth.
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