Wanita MCA complements Health Ministry’s efforts to overcome mental illness

-Beauty Life DIY ~ Blue Storm Terminators Training Camp & Certificate Award Ceremony

MCA HQ, 19 Aug – Following the announcement by Minister of Health Dato’ Seri Dr S Subramaniam in September last year that “4.2 million people suffer from mental health, with the highest prevalence among those aged 16 to 19 years and those from low income families”, it did not take long for Wanita MCA Chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie initiate a Blue Storm Terminators camp which aims to train State WAnita MCA leaders to be counsellors on mental health which commenced in March this year by teaming up with clinical psychologist Dr Alex Ng.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference held at the sidelines of the third and last session for the Blue Strom Terminators training, Seai Kie explained that “after today, each of them (Blue Storm Terminators trainees) will be awarded with a certificate, which shows they have graduated as Wanita MCA Blue Storm Terminators.” Adding that 30 State level WAnita MCA members had participated in the course, Seai Kie highlighted that “the 30 of them will return to their states and form a Blue Storm Terminator team at the state level to fight depression and counsel persons experiencing depression.”

Citing the announcement by the Health Minister that one-third of the Malaysian population is afflicted with mental illness, Seai Kie informed that “by 2020, mental illness will be the second major health problem in Malaysia after heart diseases.”

According to the findings by Health Ministry report, 4.2 million or 30percent of Malaysians in the age group of 16 years and above suffer from mental health. This translates to every 3 persons out of all persons aged 16 years and above, there is one who is afflicted with mental illness. The report also showed that more than half of mental illness patients are females whereby males account for 48.1percent, while females total 51.9percent.

This programme is an initiative by Wanita MCA which commenced on 5 March 2017, in conjunction with the International Women’s Day with the purpose of addressing the increasing pressures in life which have led to Malaysians being afflicted with mental problems.

Seai Kie also informed that the Health Ministry reported that mental illness was recorded highest among the Orang Asli at 41.1percent, followed by Indians at 28.9percent and Malays at 28.2percent. Mental illness was found to be lowest among Chinese at 24.2percent. “These figures are quite worrisome,” said Seai Kie.

“As most  mental problems are related to depression, Wanita MCA believes that depression can be treated in time and with proper guidance. Hence, Wanita MCA has taken the lead to organize this programme, knowing that at the moment, we do not have enough psychiatrists in the country.”

At the moment, there are only 360 registered psychiatrists which is equivalent to a ratio of 200,000 to 1 psychiatrist. “This is way far from the standards proposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which proposed for that every population of 10,000, there should be one psychiatrist. This means, Malaysia needs 3,000 psychiatrists. In view of this, Wanita MCA has taken the lead to initiate this programme and we are lucky to have Dr Alex Ng to be our mentor to train all our Blue Storm Terminators”

“After today, each Blue Storm Terminator will be given a certificate, and they will return to each state and form a state and division level Blue Storm Terminator Team.”

The Wanita MCA head informed that at the WAnita MCA division level, she has instructed that each division is to appoint a special Blue Storm Terminator Bureau with a chief and deputy to coordinate with the state to help people suffering from depression. She explained that the purpose of setting up this Bureau at the division level for the convenience of the community, and also at the same time to render this service throughout the whole country, through the 191 MCA divisions.

“Thus I urge all who are having mental problems to refer to the nearest Wanita MCA division to link them to the state.” She elaborated that “all these state level Bureaus are linked to the General Hospital Psychiatric Department. We are bridging people afflicted with mental illness to the counselling needed. We also link them to the State Social Welfare Department for their counsellors and NGOs who provide counselling.”

“At the same time, I urge the public, and volunteers who are willing to join our Wanita MCA, please do come, as we welcome them, to strengthen the team so that we can help more people as the assistance coverage is enlarged, and the team is made more effective.”

Datuk Heng Seai Kie
Wanita MCA Chairman
Adviser of Prime Minister Department (National Unity & Integration) 
Deputy President of  the National Council of Women Organisation (NCWO)

-MCA online-