M'SIA: DEPRESSION WILL BE NO: 2 KILLER AFTER HEART AILMENT IN 2020

KUALA KANGSAR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- While Malaysia is set to become a developed nation status by 2020, that year will also see depression becoming the second biggest killer, after heart coronary problem.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) gave depression this unenviable
ranking,
followed by other main mental problems comprising restlessness, insomnia and
suicide.

The Health Ministry's health education director, Abdul Jabar Ahmad, said as
the rising trend of mental health problems had become more and more disturbing,
greater attention should be focused on the illnes.

"The ministry has been organising various workshops and training sessions
to educate the public on ways to tackle the stress, including reinforcing their
skills and confidence," he said.

Abdul Jabar was speaking at the close of 'Let's Handle Stress Carnival
2008', in conjunction with the national-level World Mental Health Day 2008
celebration at the Kuala Kangsar Malay College here Thursday.

Abdul Jabar also said there were four institutions and 29 public hospitals
nationwide which offered psychiatry services by 88 psychiatrists, two
psychologists and 77 counsellors.

For the past two years, he said, 62 family health specialists had also been
trained to identify and treat patients suggering from depression.

Meanwhile, he said 373 food poisoning cases were recorded by the ministry
in the first nine months of the year, an increase of 10 per cent as compared to
the same period last year.

He said among the main factors for food poisoning included low-level of
hygiene consciousness among the food operators and poor-level of cleanliness at
the food premises.