Every 10th October, World Mental Health Day is celebrated as an effort to raise awareness of the importance of mental health in our daily living. With optimal mental health, we will be able to cope with stress, realize our abilities, work or study effectively, and contribute to our communities.

According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023, 4.6% (1 million people) of Malaysians aged 16 and above have experienced depression, and this number has increased by 2 times from 2019 to 2023. Almost half of the people surveyed have thoughts about being better off dead or harming themselves. 1 in 6 children in Malaysia also suffer from mental health problems. These statistics are very worrying. Therefore, we need to take the mental health issues in our country seriously.

This year, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has set the theme for World Health Day as “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”. Natural disasters such as floods, landslides, wildfires, tsunamis and earthquakes can affect many. The COVID-19 pandemic that we have experienced a few years ago is also an emergency that has challenged the lives of everyone in the world. In addition, wars that have broken out in several countries have increased the burden among people involved in these areas too.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), almost everyone involved in emergencies experiences psychological distress, such as feeling of sadness, anxiety, anger, sleep problems, fatigue or body aches. Usually, these symptoms will improve or disappear with time. However, 1 in 5 people affected will experience mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc. Disasters and emergencies can reduce people's access to quality health services, and further worsening social problems such as poverty and discrimination.

In Malaysia, disasters such as floods and landslides often disrupt the lives of our people and damage our property and infrastructure. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) have been established at the district and local levels, and are often activated during disasters and emergencies to provide basic mental health support and assistance to the affected population. The MHPSS team usually consists of psychiatrists, family physician, medical officers, paramedics, counsellors, and clinical psychologists. With the efforts of the MHPSS, the incidence of mental illness due to disasters and emergencies can be reduced or avoided, and people who need mental health services will be able to access the services in the shortest possible time.

At an individual level, the following tips can foster a healthy lifestyle and promote better mental health:

1. Exercise regularly and being active. Active lifestyle and exercise not only help physically but can improve our mental health as well.
2. Balanced and nutritious food. Plan our diet with the Malaysian Healthy Plate which uses the concept of “Quarter-Quarter-Half”: ¼ of the diet consists of carbohydrate, ¼ from protein, and ½ from vegetables and fruits.
3. Get enough sleep and time to rest.
4. Avoid smoking, alcohol and drug use.
5. Adopt healthy coping strategies, such as performing hobbies - listening to music, drawing, reading, etc.
6. Always connect with family and friends.
7. Understand and identify the symptoms or signs of mental health problems, and seek professional help such as doctors, counsellors and clinical psychologists at an early stage.

With the efforts and cooperation of various parties and individuals, we will be able to create a healthy society, eliminate the stigma against mental health issues, and effectively overcome the challenges of disasters and emergencies. We need to remember that “There is no Health without Mental Health!”

Dr. Soh Shean Yih
Medical Lecturer and Psychiatrist
Department of Psychiatry
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Universiti Putra Malaysia
soh.sheanyih@upm.edu.my

Date of Input: 10/10/2025 | Updated: 10/10/2025 | nadia_rahman