SIBU: All secondary schools here are being encouraged to implement mental health awareness programmes as part of their education for students.
Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Michael Tiang Ming Tee said that schools should not only focus on physical health education but also prioritise mental health education.
“For students, they have two homes—their natural home where they are born, and the second home is the school. Imagine if they face pressures or issues at home that affect their mental well-being. If the school only emphasises studying hard like a robot and neglects their mental health and social issues, it can be harmful, leading to breakdowns not only in young persons but even in adults like me,” he said during the Mental Health Literacy programme organised jointly by the Sibu Mental Health Association (SMHA) and Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) at Wong Nai Siong Secondary School yesterday (July 21).
It was conducted by Sibu Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry Ward.
Tiang, who is also Pelawan assemblyman, highlighted the importance of addressing mental health issues in young people.
According to the National Health Ability survey in 2017, which involved 30,000 secondary school students, it was revealed that one out of 10 students had suicidal thoughts, one in five suffered from depression, and two in five experienced stress and anxiety. There has been a concerning trend in mental health issues among young people.
Also present were SMHA Chairman Kapitan So Teck Kee, Penghulu Lau Hieng Wuong, and the school principal Lu Yew Hiiung.
