KUCHING, Oct 13: Sarawak recorded 35.8 percent of mental health disorder making it the fourth highest in the country said Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
As such, Sarawak also lacks psychologists namely; biopsychologists, clinical psychologists, cognitive psychologists, community psychologists, counselling psychologists, cross-cultural psychologists, developmental psychologists, educational psychologists, health psychologists, and forensic psychologists to name a few.
“I would like to call upon Sarawakians to take up psychology as a career.
“At the same time, my Ministry is collaborating with relevant strategic partners including psychologist, counselors, psychiatrists and para counselors to provide social support and services on social issues,” said Fatimah in her speech at the closing ceremony of the National Symposium of Psychology and Wellbeng (SKeP 2022) in UNIMAS here, yesterday.
Fatimah also disclosed that her ministry is going to launch an operation of the First Community Social Support Centre (CSSC) in Kuching to provide intergrated social support and intervention referrals.
“The Sarawak Psychology and Counseling Center will provide their services at the CSSC. We encourage professionals to come forward and volunteer at the center,” added Fatimah.
Citing from the National Health and Morbidity Survey Report 2015, the prevalence of mental health issues were largely affected by those residing in rural areas.
“Suicidal ideation and attempt amongst adoscelents and teenagers in Sarawak were on the rise between 2015 and 2017,” she pointed out. -TVS
