Crude suicide rate in Malaysia 2000-2016

As of 2016, Malaysia’s crude suicide rate stood at 5.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. Although it is still well below the 2016 global crude suicide rate of 10.6 per 100,000 people, the data indicate a rise in suicide numbers in Malaysia since 2010, posing a challenge for the Malaysian mental health care system. A burdened mental health care system With only one psychiatrist for every 200,000 residents as of 2019, Malaysia is far short of the WHO recommendation of one psychiatrist to 10,000 residents. This, coupled with a prevailing social stigma regarding mental health, means that many of those suffering from mental health issues do not get the treatment that they needed. In a recent survey conducted in 2018, 64 percent of Malaysians stated that they have never visited a mental health professional. State of youth mental health The shortage of mental health care professionals has a profound effect on the state of youth mental health. Schools are reporting higher incidences of depression, anxiety, and stress amongst youths in Malaysia. Pressure to perform well in school, as well as more modern sources of stress such as cyberbullying has led to increased suicidal tendencies and behaviors in Malaysian youth. While the suicide rate in Malaysia has not reached the alarming levels as in South Korea, the fact that it is increasing in Malaysia should be enough cause for concern to improve its mental healthcare system.

自2016年起，马来西亚的粗率自杀率维持在每10万人5.5例。尽管这一数字远低于2016年全球的粗率自杀率——每10万人10.6例，但数据显示自2010年以来，马来西亚的自杀人数有所上升，这对马来西亚的精神卫生保健系统构成了挑战。精神卫生保健系统负担沉重，截至2019年，每20万居民仅有一位精神科医生，这一数字远低于世界卫生组织每1万名居民配备一位精神科医生的建议。加之普遍存在的关于精神健康的耻辱观念，许多遭受精神健康问题困扰的人并未得到所需的救治。在2018年的一项调查中，64%的马来西亚人表示他们从未咨询过精神健康专业人士。青年精神健康状况堪忧，精神卫生保健专业人员的短缺对青年精神健康状况产生了深远影响。学校报告称，马来西亚青年中抑郁症、焦虑症和压力的发病率有所上升。学业表现的压力，以及更现代的压力来源，如网络欺凌，导致了马来西亚青年自杀倾向和行为的发生增加。尽管马来西亚的自杀率尚未达到韩国那样的警钟水平，但其在马来西亚的上升趋势已足以引起对其精神卫生保健系统进行改进的关注。