Friday, April 29, 2016

Malaysia - Mental health problems on the rise among youth

National Health and Morbidity Research 2015 shows mental health issues among 16-year-old youth spiked from 10.7% in 2011 to 29.2% last year.

PETALING JAYA: Mental health problems, smoking and obesity are on the rise among youths in Malaysia, New Straits Times Online reported today.

This was revealed in the National Health and Morbidity Research 2015, which showed mental health issues among 16-year-old youth spiked from 10.7% in 2011 to 29.2% last year.

The report quoted Penang Health Department deputy director Dr Noorlia Yahaya as saying an inactive lifestyle led to people developing an addiction to smoking and eating unhealthy food.

“This, in turn contributes to physical and mental health,” said Noorlia at the launch of the Program Siswa Sihat in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, yesterday.

She said the health ministry was working towards conducting programmes and campaigns to raise awareness among students, in a bid to tackle the problem.

It was reported earlier this month that a new study by the University of California Los Angeles revealed that physical exercise could be an effective way of reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia.

This supports other recent studies that suggest that physical activity can relieve the symptoms of mental concerns such as depression and anxiety.


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