jeffooi
21-12-2002, 10:23 AM
THE STAR
Saturday, December 21, 2002
<FONT SIZE="+1">Expert: 15% of population mentally ill</FONT>
By CLARENCE CHUA
PETALING JAYA: Between 10% and 15% of the population have mental illness that range from anxiety disorders to substance addiction, Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Prof Dr Hussain Habil said.
He said about 80% of such people suffered from depression and anxiety.
Dr Hussain, however, explained that there was a difference between normal depression and a clinical one.
“Feeling down occasionally is not clinical depression.
“Feeling sad and hopeless longer than expected, loss of interest, difficulty in making decisions, thoughts of death? if this things persists, it’s clinical depression,” he said at a Occupational Mental Health seminar.
He hit out at employers and insurance companies for ignoring the plight of sufferers.
“In advanced countries their insurance covers mental illness but when this companies operate in Malaysia, it is left out. How can you have two standards?” he said.
It is estimated that only 30% of patients will receive treatment while the rest of the 70% will be locked away without access to any cure.
At the same seminar, Prof T. Maniam from the Department of Psychology at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said studies found that the number of attempted and complete suicides among unemployed mentally ill workers were higher than that of normal employees.
He said that based on studies conducted worldwide, these suicidal tendencies were the result of a vicious cycle perpetuated by society’s inability to understand the illness.
“People who are mentally ill have a higher chance of being unemployed and being unemployed aggravates one’s low self-esteem confidence and dignity. So the two factors further enhance the risk of them committing suicide.
“Employers fail to understand that mental illness, like any other illnesses, are treatable and they can continue working as normal,” he added.
According to studies, one in 100 worldwide will develop some form of mental illness by age 45. Ten percent of those who suffer from schizophrenia commit suicide while more who suffer from depressive disorders will follow suit.
SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/12/21/nation/ccmentall&sec=nation
Saturday, December 21, 2002
<FONT SIZE="+1">Expert: 15% of population mentally ill</FONT>
By CLARENCE CHUA
PETALING JAYA: Between 10% and 15% of the population have mental illness that range from anxiety disorders to substance addiction, Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Prof Dr Hussain Habil said.
He said about 80% of such people suffered from depression and anxiety.
Dr Hussain, however, explained that there was a difference between normal depression and a clinical one.
“Feeling down occasionally is not clinical depression.
“Feeling sad and hopeless longer than expected, loss of interest, difficulty in making decisions, thoughts of death? if this things persists, it’s clinical depression,” he said at a Occupational Mental Health seminar.
He hit out at employers and insurance companies for ignoring the plight of sufferers.
“In advanced countries their insurance covers mental illness but when this companies operate in Malaysia, it is left out. How can you have two standards?” he said.
It is estimated that only 30% of patients will receive treatment while the rest of the 70% will be locked away without access to any cure.
At the same seminar, Prof T. Maniam from the Department of Psychology at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said studies found that the number of attempted and complete suicides among unemployed mentally ill workers were higher than that of normal employees.
He said that based on studies conducted worldwide, these suicidal tendencies were the result of a vicious cycle perpetuated by society’s inability to understand the illness.
“People who are mentally ill have a higher chance of being unemployed and being unemployed aggravates one’s low self-esteem confidence and dignity. So the two factors further enhance the risk of them committing suicide.
“Employers fail to understand that mental illness, like any other illnesses, are treatable and they can continue working as normal,” he added.
According to studies, one in 100 worldwide will develop some form of mental illness by age 45. Ten percent of those who suffer from schizophrenia commit suicide while more who suffer from depressive disorders will follow suit.
SOURCE:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/12/21/nation/ccmentall&sec=nation