SIBU: More needs to be done to bring about greater public consciousness on mental health.
To this end Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang called on both government bodies and NGOs to hold more mental health literacy programmes.
“In this health-conscious era, people spend much time and energy to enhance their physical health as evidenced by the popularity of health-enhancing activities and the consumption of health supplements.
“However, the need to take care of mental health is seemingly neglected,” he said at a Community Mental Health Literacy event organised jointly by the Sibu Mental Health Association (SMHA) and Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) Sibu Brooke Drive here recently.
The event was conducted by Sibu Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry head, Dr Wong Siong Teck.
“To a large extent, it is due to a lack of consciousness about the importance of mental health,” said Tiang.
He pointed out that mental health problems at the initial stage are easily overlooked due to minor or no symptoms and the fact that it is not a terminal illness, thus often taken lightly.
Generally, he pointed out the public, though not all, have a negative perception of mental health problems, even to the extent of despising such ailments.
“They tend to shun mental health patients who manifest symptoms of mental illness. This, sadly, is the case worldwide. Such common perception of mental health illness leads to a stigma attached to mental health illness.
“Fear of attracting peculiar looks often stays with the patients even after they have recovered from the illness.
“Signs of mental health problems are rather obscure at the initial stage. The common reactions from the people include ‘thinking too much’, ‘too free’ or ‘boredom’. Mental health problems are usually only apparent when they have aggravated,” he said.
Tiang commended the SMHA and JKKK Sibu Brooke Drive for staging the community mental health literacy event, saying it is a good way to awaken public consciousness on mental health.
Also present was SMJA chairman Kapitan So Teck Kee and the head of JKKK Sibu Brooke Drive, Kapitan Ling Swee Hing.
