HELP DEPRESSED MALAYSIANS, SAYS NIOSH

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- The National Institute of Occupational
Safety and Health (Niosh) has suggested the health ministry introduce short
and long-term measures to help depressed Malaysians.

Its chairman, Lee Lam Thye, said the ministry should also help
intensify efforts for the promotion of good mental health.

"This is the right time for the ministry to galvanise its resources
nationwide to promote good mental health, with the participation of the
Malaysian Mental Health Association and other non-governmental organisation
(NGOs), employers, employees, family units and the community as a whole," he
said in a statement Sunday.

Lee said the government could lay the infrastructure by providing more
psychiatric units and hospital beds.

He also called on the health ministry to look into training more
psychiatrists and psychologists in hospitals and clinics to deal with mental
disorder patients while NGOs should be assisted to do more in promoting mental
health.

Lee said that according to World Health Organisation, depression ranked
fifth among the major causes of disability, and was expected to jump to second
place in the year 2020.

-- BERNAMA