Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed the statistics on Tuesday, saying that in Malaysia, men are 4 times more prone to commit suicide than women.
“The number of suicides has increased dramatically, especially since 2021, with almost or more than 1,000 cases recorded per year,” he said in an announcement after chairing a gathering of the National Social Council.
“In 2019, there were 609 cases, in 2020 621, in 2021 1,142, in 2022 981 and last year 1,087.”
Ahmad Zahid said many of the suicides were amongst men (over 3,600 cases), while over 780 were amongst women. He added that there was concern that the Chinese community was recording the best variety of suicides annually since 2019.
There is little question that the country is currently going through drastic social and economic changes.
He added that over the past five years, the variety of suicides amongst foreigners got here second, followed by Indians and Malaysians.
“There is no doubt that the country is currently going through drastic social and economic changes,” said Ahmad Zahid.
“[This is] resulting from the emergence of varied recent trends resembling demographic changes, urbanization, digital innovation, economic inequality, changing global economic power and global hyperconnectivity,” he said.
“This shift has resulted in significant changes in social behavior, cultural changes, and behavioral changes, as well as a dynamic shift in family institutions and society as a whole.”
The Deputy Prime Minister said this showed “a significant need for radical and rapid changes in our approach to social policy to keep up”.
The Malaysian National Mental Health Crisis Line, or HEAL Line 15555 (Help with Empathy and Love), has received over 48,900 calls from October 2022 to June this 12 months, Ahmad Zahid revealed.
Of these calls, a complete of 28,870 received emotional support, while 20,030 included specific interventions resembling psychoeducation, positive coping skills, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
