Pressure to achieve academic and career success, relationship problems, social media influence and financial difficulties are among the main factors affecting young people's mental health.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) found that 4.6 per cent of Malaysians aged 16 and above, or about one million people, suffered from depression.
Young people recorded the highest prevalence, at 7.9 per cent among those aged 16 to 19, and 7.6 per cent among those aged 20 to 29.
In a written parliamentary reply to Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (Pas-Tumpat), who asked about the mental well-being of young people, Dzulkefly said his ministry had established the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health to coordinate government policies and initiatives on mental health.
