Morib: Mental health is an important prerequisite to building a productive, caring, and emotionally, socially, and spiritually balanced society, stated Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the wife of the Prime Minister.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Wan Azizah emphasized the growing concern over mental health issues in Malaysia, citing the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 report by the Ministry of Health. The report indicates a significant rise in mental health problems over the past five years. It is estimated that one million Malaysians aged 16 and above are experiencing depression, doubling the figure from 500,000 in 2019. This increase from 2.3 to 4.6 percent highlights urgent public health challenges.
Dr Wan Azizah also noted that one in six children aged five to 15 is affected by mental health issues, emphasizing that these statistics represent a concerning reality. She addressed these issues while officiating the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (TEKUN National) Wanita KASEH Programme at Dataran Pantai Morib.
The Wanita KASEH initiative extends to the entrepreneurial sector, focusing particularly on women, who must prioritize mental well-being to thrive in the competitive business environment. Dr Wan Azizah underscored that entrepreneurs who maintain physical fitness and mental calmness are better equipped to navigate business pressures creatively and resiliently.
She stressed the importance of a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, stress management, and work-life balance, stating that these are crucial for personal health and societal contribution. Dr Wan Azizah also highlighted that healthy women are better positioned to lead their families and contribute positively to society.
In her address, she was accompanied by TEKUN National chairman Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid and presented RM337,000 in financing to eight recipients from Kuala Langat and Sepang through five schemes at the Morib TEKUN MADANI Carnival.
Since its inception in 1998, TEKUN Nasional has distributed RM10.5 billion to 602,059 entrepreneurs nationwide.