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Suicide rates in Malaysia have surged in recent years, with 4,440 Malaysians taking their own lives since 2019, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed to parliament. The alarming statistics show that men in Malaysia are four times more likely to die by suicide than women.
"The number of suicides has surged, particularly since 2021, with almost or over 1,000 cases per passing year," Ahmad Zahid stated after chairing a meeting of the National Social Council. The data he provided detailed the escalating crisis: 609 cases in 2019, 621 in 2020, 1,142 in 2021, 981 in 2022, and 1,087 in 2023.
Of the 4,440 suicides, over 3,600 involved men, while more than 780 involved women. Ahmad Zahid expressed concern about the Chinese community, which has experienced the highest number of suicides annually since 2019. He also noted that suicides among foreigners were the second highest over the past five years, followed by the Indian and Malay communities.
The Deputy Prime Minister attributed the rise in suicides to drastic social and economic changes in the country. "There is no doubt that the country is currently experiencing drastic social and economic change," Ahmad Zahid said. He cited various new trends, including demographic changes, urbanization, digital innovation, economic inequality, changing global economic power, and global hyperconnectivity. These factors, he explained, have led to significant shifts in social behaviors, cultural change, and dynamic changes in family institutions and general society.
Given these challenges, Ahmad Zahid stressed the urgent need for a significant overhaul in social policy approaches. He emphasized that early intervention and adapting to these rapid changes are crucial for addressing the mental health crisis.
Malaysia’s National Mental Health Crisis Line, HEAL Line 15555 (Help with Empathy and Love), received more than 48,900 calls from October 2022 to June 2023, Ahmad Zahid revealed. Of these, 28,870 callers received emotional support, while 20,030 involved special interventions such as psychoeducation, positive coping skills, and cognitive behavior therapy.
Netizens reacted to the news with a mix of concern and calls for action. One commenter wrote, "It's heartbreaking to see these numbers. We need to support each other more and break the stigma around mental health." Another user added, "The government needs to take more proactive measures. Mental health support should be easily accessible to everyone."
Source: The Star
