SHAH ALAM - Mental healthcare services should be expanded and enhanced nationwide.
Praising the move by Selangor to provide free mental health care through the Selangkah application, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) President Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said this is a move that should also be implemented nationwide.
He added that the number of psychiatrists should also be increased as there is a lack of such expertise in public healthcare.
"Mental healthcare services should be expanded and enhanced nationwide but to achieve this, the number of psychiatrists will also need to be increased and the distribution of psychiatrists for each state looked into. "Currently there aren't many psychiatrists in public healthcare outside of Klang Valley," he reasoned.
Murugan went on to explain that the Selangkah application might be more preferable for patients suffering from depression as many hesitate to come forward to seek treatment,
"Cases of depression have risen in recent years. According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey depression was more prevalent amongst the B40 group.
"Reported cases of depression are still below 12% but we believe the percentage will likely be higher as many are not coming forward to seek treatment.
"For these patients, the Selangkah app may be a preferred way to get help especially for initial assessment which can be done through the app," he explained
However, he said mental healthcare services may not be easily accesible to some groups as not everyone is fortunate enough to own a smartphone.
"Hence the state government will need to find ways to make the services more accessible other than through using the app," he told Sinar Daily.
Murugan also called for the service to be provided in multiple languages for ease of initial assessments and to not alienate any groups.
When asked on the price range of mental health treatments, Murugan said the consultation fee could range from RM100 to RM200, but the treatment cost can vary according to the centres and treatments provided.
"The consultation fee in a private setting could range from RM100 onwards and this would depend on the time spent and also services provided.
"With the Selangkah app, the subsidy of RM200 will be a huge help not only financially but to make the services more accessible.
"It is a good initiative by the Selangor government in that it increases mental health services in the state, mental health awareness and helps ease some of the congestion at public healthcare facilities in the country's most populous state," he said.
Meanwhile, Public Health Specialist Professor Dr Hematram Yadav urged the federal government to increase mental health care services and make it more accessible to more people as many are suffering silently due to many factors.
" After the pandemic, people are stressed, have anxiety, depression due to job loss, business failures and eventually can't support their families," he said,
As for Universiti Malaysia Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health Dr Moy Foong Ming the government also needed to address the unemployment rates as well, as this is a huge contributing factor as to why many are not able to afford mental health care.
"It would be ideal if we implement such programmes nationally.
"The government should step in with more free treatments to help those who can't seek medical help but the root problem is no money and no job.
"Besides providing free mental health treatment, the government should also address the unemployment problem," she said.
The Selangor state government is allocating subsidies covering 700 psychiatric treatment slots for state residents who need further specialist intervention.