Mental Health Awareness

Written by Fathiah Zakaria

Mental illness has become one of the prevailing health problem nowadays. Mental illness happens to people from all walks of lives, professionals, students, parents and children. Among prevention and intervention methods available are counselling, therapeutic assessment (physiatrist), circle time and support group. DSM-5 is a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). DSM-5 serves as the guidelines for psychiatric diagnosis and also treatment recommendations. Among types of mental disorder listed in DSM-5 are Anxiety Disorder, Autism Spectrum, Personality Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Social Communication Disorder and etc. [1]. In developed countries like United States, the treatment cost for mental disorder is covered by medical insurance.

There are numbers of Government entities, NGO and private practices that provide services related to mental health in Malaysia such as MENTARI Malaysia, Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association (MIASA), Relate Malaysia, Malaysian Mental Health Association and etc. In fact, most of the Government entities provides in-house counsellor and psychologist. If you feel you are having unstable emotional, changing in mental state condition, there is no harm of finding professional help. Counselling would be one of effective methods to deal with this condition. Counselling provides a safe space to talk about thoughts and feelings, subjected to counsellor’s ethics and confidentiality. It allows someone to talk with a professional who can help to work on specific issues that they are facing with. Try to find registered counsellor with notation (KB,PA) – “Kaunselor Berdaftar dan Perakuan Amalan” after their name, because they are registered with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia [2]. In the condition where further treatment and medical assessment is needed, counsellor will refer the clients to the psychiatrist.

World Health Organization (WHO) defined mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community” [3]. Let’s check on our mental state condition. Positive mental well-being results in blissful community and prosperous country. Remember that “loving ourselves works miracle in our lives”.

[1] “DSM-5” Accessed on: 1 November, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/educational-resources/dsm-5-fact-sheets

[2] “Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia” Accessed on: 1 November, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.lkm.gov.my/

[3] “Mental Illness Definition” Accessed on: 1 November, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://relate.com.my/