Youth identity crisis fuels mental health problems, says Yeoh
KOTA KINABALU: Mental health problems among youths are linked to their sense of identity and future prospects, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
"Policymakers need to take this data seriously," she said after launching the "Roundtable Discussion: Asean Youth Mental Health" at a resort here.
Yeoh was referring to the identity issues of stateless individuals in Sabah, which she said must be addressed despite the political sensitivities.
She added that her ministry is working with the National Anti-Drugs Agency to curb substance abuse among youth, who often turn to drugs to cope with mental health challenges.
"When we started talking to young people, we realised that many of them turn to drugs for various reasons. But our approach is not to judge them.
"We want to raise awareness and encourage them to seek help and get treatment. They cannot sit at home and try to resolve this problem alone.".
Findings from the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) showed that indigenous communities recorded the lowest scores on the depression index, likely due to their access to stress-relieving activities or environments.
She said that Sarawak had the highest happiness scores, while Sabah ranked in the top five.
IYRES said one in five youths aged 15 to 30 is experiencing mental stress.
Yeoh said the meeting aimed to promote youth mental health awareness among Asean states and adopt best practices, given their shared lifestyles and challenges.
She said that the government alone cannot solve the mental health crisis, and collective efforts are needed from all sectors, including medical professionals and religious organisations.
The initiative follows a recent Dewan Rakyat session, where suicide attempts were decriminalised.
They were previously punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code.
The roundtable was organised by IYRES in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and the Communication for Development Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Representatives from Asean states also attended the event.
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