SIBU: Relatives of psychiatric patients and the general public must work closely with the psychiatric doctors and nurses said Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
He said this necessity arises from the escalating number of individuals grappling with mental illness, notwithstanding the insufficient count of medical professionals available.
“We do not know what the reason is, but lately we hear a lot of stories about the psychiatric numbers are increasing, either because of post-Covid or a lot of other issues of our livelihood, which are more stressful now.
“The number of doctors, I was told, is also not increasing, but rather decreasing. Whereas the workload is increasing, so it’s become a bit of an un-proportional thing,” he said.
He was met by reporters after attending the Majlis Menyambut Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2024 event, organised by the hospital’s board of visitors here today.
Taking Sibu for example, Dr Annuar said although the town currently has six psychiatrists, the workload necessitates at least eight to serve Sarawak’s central region adequately.
“They serve not only this hospital, they have to travel (all central region) except for Sarikei and Mukah. Sarikei has their own psychiatrists, Mukah is covered by Bintulu
Dr Annuar also stressed the importance of public involvement, particularly in providing emotional support and care, which he deemed essential in psychiatric treatment.
“This field doesn’t demand a myriad of technical skills; it’s primarily about compassion and empathy. The public’s involvement can make a significant difference in the lives of our patients,” he concluded.
Also present were Sibu Hospital director Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukkarasu and the visitor’s board chairman Kapitan Peter Lau Ik Yang.
