KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 – As much as 356 suicide cases have been recorded in Malaysia between 2014 till June this year.
Of the number, 69 of cases involved non-citizens, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said.
“To face this problem, KKM (the Health Ministry) has made available screening services and treatment for people with mental health issues at 60 government hospitals, 1,001 health clinics where the service is at the primary level and at 25 Community Mental Health Centres,” Dr Lee was quoted as saying by Bernama, in the Dewan Rakyat.
Dr Lee also reportedly stated that KKM has 400 psychiatrists stationed at the ministry’s facilities and 298 family medicine specialists for counselling on treatment, for those suffering from depression.
Dr Lee was answering a question from RSN Rayer, Jelutong member of parliament, who wanted to know the steps the ministry was taking to tackle suicide problem, in view of the increasing number of such cases in the country lately.
Talks are also in full swing by the government to decriminalise suicide, with an aim to aid people to seek help for mental health issues.
