Melaka: A total of 758 mental health patients have been treated at health clinics across Melaka from 2021 up to June this year, with nearly half diagnosed with depression.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem reported that of the total, 600 were new patients, while another 158 were referred or 'stepped down' from Melaka Hospital to continue treatment at the primary level. Among the cases, 48 percent were diagnosed with depression, 24 percent with anxiety disorder, and 18 percent with schizophrenia. However, this data does not include patients receiving treatment at hospitals or private treatment centers.
Ngwe provided this information while speaking to reporters during the State-level World Mental Health Day 2025 Celebration at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Rambai. The event aligned with the Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat (WRUR) programme for the Klebang state constituency.
Ngwe explained that mental health services at clinics include screening, initial clinical examinations, basic counselling, and mild psychosocial interventions conducted by a psychological officer or counsellor. Patients requiring specialist treatment are referred to hospitals, where they can consult psychiatrists and mental medicine specialists. These hospitals offer subspecialty services that cover areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and substance abuse treatment.
He also highlighted the Mentari Programme, a mental health community centre providing continuous support to the community. In addition, the Ministry of Health (MOH) offers a self-screening platform through MyMinda in the MySejahtera application and the Mentari portal, enabling users to assess mental health risks and schedule appointments at health clinics.
To enhance support at the grassroots level, Ngwe mentioned that the MOH is implementing the K-MindSet programme. This initiative trains community leaders as advocacy agents to raise awareness, improve public understanding of the early signs of mental health problems, and fight stigma.