YOUNG people are the age group most affected by depression in Malaysia, with nearly eight in every 100 teenagers aged 16 to 19 experiencing the condition, according to the Health Ministry.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 found that 4.6% of Malaysians aged 16 and above, or about one million people, experienced depression.
The prevalence was highest among those aged 16 to 19, at 7.9%, followed by 7.6% among those aged 20 to 29.
He cited academic and career pressures, relationship problems, social media influence and financial difficulties as among the factors affecting the mental health of young people.
Dzulkefly also highlighted the problem of postnatal depression, with the NHMS 2022 finding that 11.2% of mothers experienced the condition. Nine in 10 of those affected were unaware they had depression, he said.
“Younger mothers and those living in urban areas accounted for a higher proportion of mothers experiencing depression,” he said in a written parliamentary reply published on the Parliament website.
He was responding to Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PAS-Tumpat), who asked about the mental well-being of young people and young women, including whether the government planned to establish a special task force involving several ministries to strengthen early intervention.
The proposed task force would bring together expertise in healthcare, education, employment, family and community development to address mental health problems before they become more serious.
Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry, through the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH), coordinates national mental health policies and initiatives with other ministries and government agencies.
He said families, friends and communities also had an important role in recognising early signs of mental health problems so that those affected could receive appropriate treatment.
The ministry welcomed the proposal for a dedicated inter-ministerial task force, he added.
Existing cross-ministry initiatives include the Healthy Mind Programme in schools, conducted with the Education Ministry, and the Healthy Students Programme with the Higher Education Ministry.
Mental health training is also carried out through Kem Belia @ Rakan Prihatin.
The ministry also works with the Youth and Sports Ministry through the National Service Training Programme (PLKN 3.0).
For young people seeking help through KafeTeen, an initiative under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, the Health Ministry serves as a referral centre for cases requiring further assessment and intervention, Dzulkefly said. - October 22, 2026