PETALING JAYA: Cultural stigma and social expectations continue to deter young people from seeking mental health support, with experts citing awareness gaps and persistent misconceptions as key barriers.
Malaysian Mental Health Association president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj said the willingness to seek mental health support is often constrained by local cultural norms.
“In our society, mental health issues are frequently associated with weakness, or even attributed to supernatural causes under certain cultural or religious beliefs.
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“This discourages open acknowledgement of problems and professional help-seeking,” he said when contacted recently.
Dr Andrew added that improving mental health literacy requires active involvement from institutions and associations to reduce stigma and expand awareness.
“Collaborative efforts by mental health non-governmental organisations and schools, such as workshops framed around child development and academic success, can go a long way in educating parents on how to identify mental health issues in their children,” he said.
Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 showed that one in eight adolescents aged 10 to 19, and one in 20 children aged five to nine, are estimated to have a mental disorder, yet many have not sought treatment.
Psychologist Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan said awareness of the seriousness of mental health issues is often clouded by parental attitudes.
“Many parents blame the child for having a psychological issue, and that is the first hurdle we need to address,” she said.
She added that misconceptions held by parents often affect their willingness to seek therapy for their children.
“Parents sometimes believe their child is simply ‘crazy’, when in reality the child lacks coping strategies to manage the disorder. When a child is diagnosed with autism, some parents blame the child or assume it is something that was somehow ‘contracted’.”
Anasuya also said negative past experiences with counselling discourage some parents from pursuing professional help.
“There are cases where individuals claim to be therapists despite not having completed a Master’s degree and end up giving incorrect advice. Such incompetence can erode parents’ trust in the effectiveness of therapy,” she said.
She added that seeking external help can also be emotionally difficult for parents.
“It can hurt their pride as parents to accept that there is something they cannot help their own child with,” she said.
Meanwhile, child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Wong Yim Chan said education is key to challenging misconceptions surrounding mental disorders.
“It is crucial for parents to understand that when a child has a disorder, their brain functions differently. This calls for different parenting approaches,” he said.
Dr Wong added that more local resources are needed to guide families in managing mental health issues.
“In Malaysia, locally relevant online resources can be limited, but families can still rely on credible international platforms such as the National Health Service or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” he said.
