The Mental Health Development in Malaysia: History, Current Issue and Future Development

Abstract

In recent years, the burden of caregiving for mental illness service users has been alarming due to the lack of resources in mental health services in Malaysia. The issue of caregiving for mental illness service users in Malaysia now then become more complex because of its multiracial society, with people from different cultural backgrounds and who possess varied beliefs and attitudes. This paper aims to review the development of mental health services from the era of independence till the post millennium era. Firstly, the researchers discuss the history of mental health development by looking at mental health institution from the perspective of government plan. Secondly, the development of mental health policy is followed. Thirdly, mental health resources in terms of professional service providers and physical support are reviewed in this section. Lastly, current issues on mental health service and recommendation for future research. In conclusion, we suggest that it will be more effective for mental health professionals to join together to take collective action through the existing organisations such as the Malaysian Social Workers’ Association, Malaysian Mental Health Association and Malaysian Psychiatric Association. Furthermore, mental health professionals can help the caregivers organise their own family support groups through partnership in order to voice their opinions to the government/policy makers for the improvement and development of social policy

Perceived training needs of nurses working with mentally ill patients

“…For instance, Haque (2005) noted that religious myths and taboos have continued to influence how people respond to mental health problems and their help seeking behaviour. In Malaysia, mental illness is commonly viewed as a medical problem, with very little recognition of the influence on work disability (Chong, Mohammed, & Er, 2013). Hence, work accommodations and social inclusion are not usually provided for people with mental health problems.…”

Psychology and culture: exploring clinical psychology in Australia and the Malay Archipelago

“…Concerns about the neglect of culture by mental health professionals have been voiced in the United States and Canada since the 1960s (Kazarian & Evans, 1998), and have more recently been raised in Australia (Davidson, 2007) and in the Malay Archipelago (Chong, Mohamad & Er, 2013;Haque, 2010;Kao & Sinha, 1997;L.O. Ng, 2012;Othman & Awang, 1993).…”

Promoting Better Health Care Services for Mental Health Patients in Malaysia

“…The increased need to de-institutionalized mental health services for people with mental illness has resulted in many mentally ill patients being taken care by their family members or placed in community based rehabilitation centre operated by non government agencies or private home care. The lack of knowledge, lower mental health literacy and devotion to traditional multicultural belief systems among Malaysian might posed challenges to family caregivers, mental health service users and service providers [1].…”

“…During the 1980's and 1990's with the development of the National Mental health policy in 1997, there was a shift where people with mental illness were de-institutionalized. With the introduction of the National Mental Health Act in 2001, many mental health service users were being discharged into the community where people with mental illness were preferably care for by family members with the support from community clinics and general hospitals [1]. This move was in response to the World Health Organization recommendation to provide opportunities for people with mental illness to continue living in their own environment.…”

“…In Malaysia, due the lack of knowledge, coping skills and the prevalence of stigmatization some families preferred their mentally ill relatives to be institutionalized in hospital or community based rehabilitation centre. Studies have shown that family caregivers complain of the burden, anxiety, depression and economic strain in caring for their mentally ill family members [1]. Mental service users are regarded as dangerous, violent, unpredictable and beyond professional help [2].…”