SHAH ALAM – Mental health experts have urged Malaysians to "stop suffering in silence", warning that rising emotional distress particularly among men cannot be addressed without early education, stronger social support systems and a redefinition of masculinity.
They stressed that the greatest barrier is not the lack of available treatment, but encouraging individuals to open up and seek help in the first place.
Malaysian Psycho-Spiritual Well-being Association deputy chairman, psychologist and suicidologist Dr Adnan Omar said the nation must urgently confront the stigma that prevents people from reaching out.
"The tagline is: ‘Don’t suffer in silence’ and for suicide, ‘Stop being alone. As a society, we need to socialise mental health," he told Sinar Daily.
Dr Adnan outlined several approaches that he believes Malaysia must begin implementing immediately.
He said both boys and girls need proper mental health education from a young age, including understanding symptoms, interventions and treatment options.
"As early as Year 3, school children are taught first aid. It’s about time we include another topic, Psychological First Aid (PFA) at the same age," he added.
Schools and academic institutions, he noted, play a crucial role in shaping long-term awareness.
Addressing male mental health directly, Dr Adnan said Malaysia must rethink its definition of masculinity.
"What is masculinity? What makes men powerful and in control?
"Harming oneself, resorting to substance abuse, believing that reaching out is a weakness and overworking, these are not signs of emotional control. They are signs of chaotic and reckless behaviour," he said.
Dr Adnan suggested that discussions on healthy, "real" masculinity be included in the Friday khutbah, given the influence of religious discourse in shaping community attitudes.
He also called on government agencies, private organisations and non-governmental organisations to increase the visibility of mental health issues through campaigns, talks, banners, social media exposure and competitions.
Dr Adnan stressed that mental health must no longer be treated solely as a clinical or medical issue.
"Mental health is our ability to achieve our potential, manage stress, study or work productively and contribute to society," he said.
Because of this, he said, mental health interventions must also come from families, workplaces, communities and places of worship, not just hospitals.
He said when mental health is framed only as a medical problem, men are more likely to delay seeking help until their struggles become critical.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology president Joel Low said the first step which is admitting the need for help is often the hardest.
"Honestly, I think that most strategies, when applied appropriately to an individual who’s receptive and has the volition for change, would work.
"The more important aspect is getting the individual to be open for help in the first place. This is often the biggest and arguably the most crucial step," he said.
He highlighted that therapeutic techniques matter less than personal readiness.
"It’s not so much what they do, but why they want to get help that matters. Once that desire for change happens, they’re far more likely to proceed," he added.