By Khairul Azran Hussin
SHAH ALAM, Nov 5 — A total of 402 individuals have sought help at the Selangor Counselling Centre throughout this year.
Selangor Public Health, Unity, Women Empowerment and Family committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said the centre provides 30 certified counsellors and the sessions could be conducted face-to-face or by the phone.
"We expect the number of individuals facing stress or mental health problems to continue to increase following the spread of Covid-19 and the implementation of the movement control order.
"Realising the importance of mental health, the 2021 Selangor Budget allocated RM500,000 to hold programmes related to it," she said, adding that it was mostly women who had used the counselling service.
At the winding-up session of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly here yesterday, Dr Siti Mariah said the state government together with the Mental Illness Support and Awareness Association have organised group psychological programmes.
"The 22-episode 'Awak OK?' programme was also broadcasted on social media to discuss mental health issues and where we can get help," she added.
On September 7, Dr Mariah had said that she expected mental health such as depression and anxiety to become the number two disease in the community, including teenagers.
According to a 2001 World Health Organisation report, about 450 million people worldwide have a mental illness with a ratio of one in four individuals are at risk.
