Global Mental Health

• Mental health disorders can be misunderstood and misattributed to possession by evil spirits, moral weakness, or divine punishment.
• People suffering from mental illness are often wrongly perceived as restless, violent, and unpredictable.
• Mental illnesses comes in many forms that differ from the another on differing parameters like their severity, duration, and degree.
• Mental illness can disturb one's mental state, affecting thinking, feeling and behaviour and interfering with normal functioning, making daily life difficult.
• Most mental illnesses are treatable, allowing individuals to enjoy a reasonable state of health, and should not be a source of shame.

Symptoms

• Mental illness are identified by symptoms.
• Symptoms of mental illness include anxiety, depression, intense fear, thought disturbances, paranoia, delusions(false beliefs), hallucinations, and unusual elation

Causes

• Emotional stress and difficulties in coping with conflict or adjusting to adverse events can cause mental illness.
• Mental illness can also caused by biochemical imbalances, deterioration of brain cells (especially in the elderly), and alcohol or drug abuse.

Defining Factors

• Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being and Influences how individuals think, feel, behave, handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions in their daily life.
• It is essential at every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood.
• Aspects of mental health include:
• Emotional well-being: The ability to manage emotions, cope with stress, and recover from adversity.
• Psychological well-being: Having a balanced mind, resilience, and the capacity to form relationships.
• Social well-being: The ability to engage in meaningful relationships and contribute to the community.

Types of Mental Illness

• Anxiety Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
• Schizophrenia

Global Scenario

• One in four people worldwide will be affected by a mental or neurological disorder in their lives.
• Approximately 450 million people currently suffer from these conditions.
• Mental disorders are among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide in statistics taken from 2017.

Global Mental Health Scenario Pre and Post COVID-19

• Mental health is critically important for everyone, everywhere.

Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health

• The pandemic has created a global mental health crisis and increased short- and long-term stresses.
• Anxiety and depressive disorders rose by over 25% in the first year of the pandemic.
• Mental health services were severely disrupted, increasing the treatment gap for mental health conditions.

Global Prevalence of Mental Disorders in 2019

• 970 million people lived with a mental disorder.
• 52.4% were females.
• 47.6% were males.
• 31% suffered from anxiety disorders
• 28.9% suffered from depressive disorders.

Mental Health Today

• One in eight people live with a mental disorder.
• Mental disorders involve significant disturbances in thinking, emotional regulation, or behavior.
• There are different types of mental disorders, like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, eating disorders, disruptive behavior, dissocial disorders, and neurodevelopment.
• Effective prevention and treatment options exist.
• Mental health conditions are highly prevalent and primarily undertreated across all countries.
• Mental disorders are the leading cause of long-term disability, and suicide remains a significant cause of death globally.
• Many people stop seeking help for mental health conditions because of limited access to quality services, low mental health literacy, and widespread stigma.
• People with severe mental health conditions die 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population.
• 71% of people with psychosis do not get mental health services.

Mental Health Conditions Generally:

• Widespread
• Undertreated
• Under-resourced: only 2% of health budgets go to mental health.

COVID-19 Impact on Psychological Health

• Contributing factors include rapid urbanization, changing lifestyles, and increased awareness, which drive higher diagnosis rates.
• The pandemic significantly worsened mental health conditions, adding stressors like economic instability, social isolation, and health concerns.
• Need for better mental health infrastructure, more accessible services, and destigmatization efforts

Pre Covid Scenario in Malaysia

• Before COVID-19, mental health issues in Malaysia were rising.
• Disorders increased from 10.7% in 1996 to 29.2% in 2015. Factors such as urbanization, economic stress, societal changes, limited service and stigma led to underdiagnosis
• Efforts to improve care and reduce stigma were underway.

In Malaysia Pre-Covid

• In 2015, 29.2% of adults experienced mental health problems.
• By 2015, 12.1% of children had mental health problems and a high prevalence among those aged 16-19 years.
• In 2018, Malaysia had 1.27 psychiatrists per 100,000 population.

Malaysia

• Depression among adults doubled between 2019 (2.3%) and 2023 (4.6%).
• The factors for this are job losses, economic hardship, prolonged isolation, and health-related anxieties.
• High rates of anxiety, feelings of loneliness, and an alarming rise in suicidal ideation and attempts.
• From 2010 to 2023 mental health disorder prevalence surged with interventions focusing on expanding access to mental health care, and community support.

Mental Well-Being during MCO Respondent Demographics

• Gender: 34% Male, 66% Female
• Age: 10% (18-24), 42% (25-34), 28% (35-44), 14% (45-54), 6% (55 and above)
• Ethnicity: 81% Malay/Bumiputera, 12% Chinese, 5% Indian, 2% Others
• States: 76% Central, 7% Eastern, 7% Northern, 6% Southern, 4% East Malaysia.

Mental Health of Children and Adolescents

• Globally, mental health in young people aged 0-18 is a neglected health issue.
• Before Covid estimates show that 10-20% of children and adolescents worldwide experienced poor mental health.
• About 50% of mental disorders begun by age 14.
• In East Asia and the Pacific, almost 1 in 7 boys and 1 in 9 girls aged 10-19 have a mental disorder, with suicide being third leading cause of death for 15-19-year olds.

Alarming Facts

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents aged 15-19.
• Risk factors for poor mental health include exposure to violence, peer victimization, and social isolation.

Paths to Transformation

• Connect: have positive relationships, contribute to communities and empathize with others.
• Function: apply cognitive skills, make healthy choices, and learn new skills.
• Cope: deal with stress, adapt to change, and manage emotions.
• Thrive: realize abilities, feel good, and find your purpose.

Conclusion

• Transform Mental Health for All: Reshape environments that influence mental health and strengthen community- based mental health services.
• Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health: Integrating mental health into primary health care to reduce suffering and advance societal development.