IPOH – A total of 4,559 individuals registered for and were provided mental treatment at government clinics in Perak in the first six months of the year, the state assembly was told today.
State Social Welfare, Women and Family Development Committee chairman Datuk Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin said based on the state Health Department data, a total of 5,213 cases were recorded last year.
Mental disorders, including depression, as well as financial problems, illness and drug abuse, were among the reasons for some 80 people committing suicide in Perak up to July, she said in response to a question from Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin (Changkat Jong-BN).
Azhar wanted to know the number of individuals suffering depression and other mental health issues since the movement control order was implemented.
Numerous measures are being taken by the state government to address the matter with the cooperation of various quarters, including the Social Welfare Department, Women’s Development Department, Health Department, Perak Islamic Religious Department, and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, said Wan Norashikin.
She said some 270 volunteers have been selected as Waja Perak Squad members to provide training and psychological support for the development of women and society at large.
The state Women’s Development Department has also carried out several online awareness programmes, such as Women Anti-Crime, Destress Clinic and Legal Clinic, to enhance public awareness on mental health issues, she added. – Bernama, August 27, 2021
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