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0 INTRODUCTION
Mental health is a situation where an individual realizes his or her potential to be
stressful about life, works productive and contributes to society. Mental health also refers to
the way we think, feel, and act. In addition, it also involves how we deal with problems and
how we deal with them. In addition, mental health can also be involved as a way of
interacting with others.
Mental health is often influenced by a person's way of life, education, religion and
culture, environmental influences such as peers and teachers, privileges, weaknesses and
achievements of the individual and the physical health of the patient himself.

Mental health affects a person's physical health, quality of life and productivity.
Mental health literacy is the knowledge and belief of disorders or mental illnesses that will
help one to identify, manage and prevent in the event of mental illness. This management
ability is able to control the effects of more serious mental disorders and suicides.
Feelings of depression, stressed, high expectations, drug abuse and tragedy and life
crisis are among the causes of suicide attempts involving teenagers and adults. In addition,
the use of gadgets and social media also leads to the risk of mental imbalance. This is
because many teenagers are involved and have psychological effects from gadget addiction
and social media. All of these factors can worsen if not addressed in the first place.
Since suicide attempts are beyond the expectations of the surrounding community,
social support from all parties is essential if identified from the outset. Sensitivity to emotional
change and depression levels are key in preventing suicide tragedy. Patients should then be
aware of the situation or problem they are facing, listen to their concerns and offer solutions
if they are able to reduce their emotional burden.
Losing the cause of surfing due to extreme stress can lead one to commit suicide.
Although Islam prohibits such acts, individuals involved in suicide attempts should be
assisted from the point of continuous moral support and should be avoided by continuing to
punish them for their religious beliefs and lack of faith. Labelling will have a detrimental effect
on the psychosocial aspects of the individual involved.

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2.0 MENTAL HEALTH
2.1 History
In recent times, mental health issues seem to have begun to be taken
seriously by society. In Malaysia, many people think that mental health problems only
refer to insanity, the fact that depression, depression and emotional disorders are
also some of the most harmful mental illnesses. However, these mental health
problems can be described as 'murderers' and need immediate treatment, especially
in today's young people.
Looking at social media, there are daily cases of mental illness. What is more
sad is that some suicidal incidents have been reported as a result of depression that
is not being properly managed. The reason is that our community is still less exposed
to these mental problems even though the country is celebrating World Mental Health
Day on October 10 with the aim of raising awareness on the matter.
From a historical perspective on the issue of mental health in Malaysia, we
cannot help but think of the development of the world of mental health sciences in
more developed countries in their mental health services and delivery systems.
Advances in mental health in the world will continue to impact the development of
mental health systems and services in the country.
Family and community members are increasingly avoiding and avoiding these
patients and treating them as strange creatures. And some think this mental patient is
crazy. Many mental patients are chained and confined to prevent them from doing
inappropriate things like harming themselves or others around them.
Only around the mid-19th century did the reform movement in the mental
health service system begin to actively seek to give patients and their families a new
life, improve treatment methods and recognize the important role of society in
assisting in the recovery process. This second phase saw the impact of
modernization of the health service system and the improvement of the quality of
research and the discovery of new discoveries in the field of medical science that
ultimately changed the world's perception of mental health. If the first phase of the
problem of mental disorders is seen to be caused by the influence of delicate beings
and evil spirits, in the second phase, the problem is seen to be caused by a certain
hormone imbalance in a patient's body that affects his health. Patients are beginning
to be treated in a more polite and humane way. At this point, too, in some parts of
Europe, many witches and sorcerers have been sentenced to death by their rulers for
their role in associating with the delicate beings and affecting the health and harmony
of society.

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 Subsequently in the early and mid-20th century, mental health services
entered the third phase, which became more and more developed. Among the
highlights of this service at this stage are the existence of community and community
mental health centres. Among the many functions of such mental health service
centres are to make the process of recovery happen at the community level. It is also
an approach to integrate the role of each family member and community in the
process of more integrated mental health care and recovery.
The history of mental health in Malaysia began in 1916 with the establishment
of a mental health hospital in Batu 3, Jalan Sekudai, Johor Bahru. The hospital has
been named Mental Assylum. However, the hospital is better known as the Crazy
Stone Hospital 3. Today, the site of this hospital is the site of Lido Beach exercise.
Before the hospital was built, psychiatric patients were treated at Woodbridge
Hospital, Singapore.
In 1929, the hospital was renamed the Lunatic Assylum. Later, in 1936, His
Royal Highness Al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim agreed to move the Gila Hospital to Batu
3 to a more suitable place. He had ordered the PMO at that time, Dr. G.H. Garlick to
find a new place. Construction work was started by the Dobb Company of England.
Later, in 1937, it was completed at a cost of Rm1,618,100.00. It was officially
opened on October 30, 1937. The area of the hospital is 635 acres but the area used
is only 110 acres. The hospital is located about 16 km from Johor Bahru City. This
hospital is called Johor Mental Hospital.
The Second World War in 1941 saw Singapore bombed on December 8,
1941 at 4.00 am by the Japanese army. Australian troops and all its personnel
moved to Singapore a week before the Japanese troops entered Johor Bahru. During
the Japanese occupation, the Permai Hospital maintained its services as usual, not
only as a place of care and rehabilitation, but also as a place of protection from the
Japanese bombers. The arrival of the Japanese here brought about an unforgettable
tragedy for the Permai people when Dr. Perinbam and Dr. S.D. Luther was brutally
murdered in front of hospital staff.
In 1945, the British army returned to power. They took over the hospital and
became the headquarters of the Jungle Squad. Meanwhile, in 1951, the recruitment
process for the residency at Johor Mental Hospital was implemented.
On April 1, 1952, Johor Mental Hospital resumed operations. Dr. Ratnasamy,
followed by Dr. David Lennox was the Medical Superintendent at the time. He has
brought a lot of changes to the aspects of psychiatric treatment. Y.B. Tun Sardon B
Hj Jubir, the then Minister of Health, officially named the hospital Permai Hospital in
1972.

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 In March 2012, the Permai Hospital moved to a new location in the New
Campaign. Now, Permai Hospital is beginning to move in a better direction. Number
of beds reduced. The main focus of treatment is on community care. Rehabilitation
programs such as Employment Support and Social Enterprise are given priority. This
rehabilitation approach has attracted many domestic and foreign agencies such as
Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Italy Hong Kong, Indonesia and South Korea.

2.2 Prevalence in Malaysia

Mental health issues continue to be taboo in Malaysian society in particular
and are rarely discussed in the context of other physical ailments such as diabetes,
hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Mental illness has a negative connotation
that leads to the stigma of society that causes this problem from the outset and does
not receive proper treatment. This condition makes mental disorders worse and can
end the life of a patient because they feel like life is no longer useful. As a result,
suicide attempts are a choice of patients and are driven by stress and serious
depression.
Because of this stigma, individuals may feel threatened and socially
discriminated against when they are diagnosed with mental illness and receive
treatment for mental illness. Therefore, this stigma needs to be immediately removed
from the chaos in society so as not to aggravate the situation. Patients who are
tested for mental disorders cannot be excluded from society but need to be
approached, understood and supported.
Therefore, the celebration of Mental Health Day is not just a form of
entertainment filled with programs but its purpose must be more holistic and closer to
the soul of the community. The benefits are not only subject to the day celebrated but
must be kept in mind and cooked by the understanding of all groups of people to
cultivate a healthy physical and mental lifestyle and to be aware of mental health
disorders that occur especially to individuals in the daily life cycle. The community
needs to be literate on mental health and be aware of the seriousness of this
problem.
Malaysia will be a united and solid nation with a society imbued with high
moral and ethical values, a loving, tolerant, advanced, resilient and capable society
that will ensure the well-being of all walks of life.
Malaysia has set a National Health Vision through the Ministry of Health to
develop a nation comprised of healthy individuals, families and communities through
a fair, affordable, efficient and technologically sound healthcare system. The health
system will emphasize health promotion and respect for human dignity as well as

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promote individual responsibility and community involvement towards a better quality
of life. This is the vision contained in the National Health Policy.
The mission of the Ministry of Health is to build partnerships in health, to
facilitate and support people to reach their health potential, to value health as a
valuable asset and to take positive action to improve and maintain their health status
and enjoy a better quality of life.
In this regard, issues related to mental health and mental health care are very
important. To enable Malaysia to achieve all its aspirations is very timely and timely.
Proper consideration, recognition, attention and financial needs are given to mental
health and mental health-related programs.

2.3 Prevalence in World

One in every six children in the United States suffers from mental health
disorders, and only half of them receive specialist treatment.
Nationwide, an estimated 7.7 million children between the ages of six and 17
suffer from the problem or about 16.5 percent of school-age children, according to
the study.
The prevalence of childhood mental health problems ranges from as low as
7.6 percent in Hawaii to as high as 27.2 percent in Maine.
Half of children with problems such as depression, anxiety and hyperactivity
do not receive any treatment from mental health professionals.
Mental health disorders are obvious, and can be very debilitating in terms of
healthy growth especially for children and adolescents.

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3.0 EFFECT OF MENTAL HEALTH
3.1 In Children
From a medical point of view, long-term stress and poor coping can
negatively affect one's mental health, including young people.
In this age of competing lives, we are unknowingly more prone to stress. It is
not too much to say that pressure is at the fingertips, especially for those who are
active and active on social media including children.
The pull of the Internet, social media and video games has made young
people less interested in getting involved in fitness while it is important to help
improve their health and mental health.
A recent study conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and
Technology in Trondheim found that children who exercise more are less likely to
develop depressive symptoms than those who are less active.
Researchers use activity detectors to see how much physical activity a child
does. Researchers then interviewed children and parents to see if they showed any
symptoms of depression.
It was found that six to eight year olds who were involved in many activities
were less likely to have depressive symptoms two years later, as reported by
Reuters.
According to lead researcher Dr Tonje Zahl, the findings show that physical
activity is very important in preventing depression among children. The findings of the
study are also in line with previous findings that exercise can stimulate emotions and
help depressed adults.
The decision is important because the effects of exercise on children's mental
health are unknown. Usually depression and mental health problems only occur
when children enter adolescence or early adulthood.
The study was conducted on respondents of 2,166 children aged six, eight
and 10 in Trondheim. Researchers also made observations on the child's parents
following the question and answer session.
At the age of six and eight, the children were asked to use an accelerometer
to track their movements for a week. They are only removed when they are bathing.
At six years old, on average children perform 1.19 hours a day with 8.58
hours of inactivity. At eight years old, the active period decreased to 1.18 hours a day
with 9.22 hours inactive. At age 10, the active period decreased to 1.09 hours a day
with 9.94 hours inactive.
Researchers also observed nine depressive symptoms among the children
and found all to show depressive symptoms at different rates. The more active

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children are, the less likely they are to report depression. However, the study found
no correlation between depression and depression symptoms.

3.2 In Young Adults

Like mental illness in adults, teenage mental illness can appear in many
ways. Mental illness in teens and young adults can range from anxiety disorders to
signs of schizophrenia. It is not uncommon for young adults to deal with depression
to the point that they or their parents actively seek out depression treatment to
combat suicidal thoughts. Mental illness in teens and young adults can appear as
personality disorders. Peer pressure can cause eating disorders and substance
abuse can be a way to cope with these problems. Because mental illness in teens
can include such a wide array of mental health disorders, it is important to get
a primary mental health diagnosis from a doctor and to seek out a mental health
facility that can help.
Adolescents who are transitioning into adulthood often make teenagers want
more attention and respect. However, sometimes the attention they get through
social media is not what they expect when they do not respond positively and are
criticized. As such, parents should play a role in raising a strong sense of self-esteem
in their children such as by praising their children, honouring their skills, and
honouring their children's interests and interests.
Parents should not just look at their weaknesses and force their child into
something that their child does not like, causing stress and frustration. Parents today
also need to understand and understand the needs of their children, as well as focus
on the advantages their children have to avoid being marginalized, thus making them
look for the most accessible medium, social media.
Compared to the days before the advent of social media, young adults were
exposed to negative content during school hours, and could therefore be neutralized
when interacting with adults during school hours. People should avoid negative
stigma against mentally ill patients who are often associated with insane or insane
behaviour.

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 Mental health can be treated if the problems encountered do not affect the
environment and the environment, while still being able to cultivate devotion as usual.
According to Yorgason et. al. (2008), the mentally ill can sometimes be cured, even
without taking the medication and the person is still able to carry out the daily routine
as usual. However, if left untreated or treated with appropriate therapy, it can turn into
a disease and thus impede normal daily activities of the mentally defective.
Therefore, the stigma on mental health issues should be eliminated so that
the sufferer is no longer shy or afraid to appear for appropriate treatment and
therapy.

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4.0 PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Mental illness is a disorder that affects the functioning of the brain that can cause a
change in one's thinking, feelings and behavior which results in the disruption of daily
activities. A 1996 surveillance study conducted in Malaysia found that almost 11.1% of
Malaysian adults were diagnosed with mental illness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that mental illness is one of the
5 leading causes of disability worldwide and is expected to be the second highest in 2020.
Advances in modern medicine have enabled the discovery of more effective medicines in the
treatment of mental illness. Almost all medications used to treat mental illness take time
before their positive effects can be seen. Perseverance in taking the drug consistently is
strongly encouraged.
In addition to psychotropic medications supportive approaches such as counseling,
psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, group therapy, family therapy, psychological education,
work recovery therapy and psycho-social recovery have proven to be just as important.

There is a huge social stigma associated with mental illness. It stems from a cultural
stance formed by superstitions and misunderstandings. This negative perception causes the
mentally ill to suffer in silence, often dismissed by the community and hopelessly supported,
through recovery.
Compared to men, women are more likely to suffer from mental disorders, stress at
work, financial burdens, and family issues such as marital issues. These mental disorders
make women more vulnerable to depression and lead to suicide.
According to Psychiatric Consultants, University of Malaya Specialist Center,
Associate Professor Dr Ng Chong Guan, many mental patients refuse to seek treatment out
of shame and feel they are not sick. Most prefer to save on problems, not to share with
family or friends until the pressure is finally under control. Others act cruelly by injuring
themselves.

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 In this regard, the community needs to be aware that everyone is responsible for
helping individuals in crisis of mental health disorders. Patients should not be left behind,
instead family members or friends should bring them to a psychiatrist as soon as possible.
Family members should recognize signs of mental illness such as depression, be
silent or act out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the Malaysian Mental
Health Association (MMHA), Datin Dr Ang Kim Teng, said the first aid kit for mental health
was essential to help provide information to the community.
Patients with mental disorders are often referred to a specialist for treatment.
Unfortunately some patients are taken to the hospital slowly but the community can also help
by providing support, listening to problems, keeping in touch with them and acting
appropriately when there are unusual signs in the patient. He added that society needs to
know that in Malaysia there is a special association to deal with individuals with mental
health problems. However, not many are aware of the existence of this association.

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5.0 THE IMPORTANT
Emotional and mental health is important because it’s a vital part of your life and
impacts your thoughts, behaviors and emotions. Being healthy emotionally can promote
productivity and effectiveness in activities like work, school or caregiving. It plays an important
part in the health of your relationships, and allows you to adapt to changes in your life and
cope with adversity.
There are steps you can take to improve your mental health everyday. Small things
like exercising, eating a balanced and healthy meals, opening up to other people in your life,
taking a break when you need to, remembering something you are grateful for and getting a
good night’s sleep, can be helpful in boosting your emotional health.
Issues related to mental health can impact different people in different ways. If you
start to see changes in your overall happiness and relationships, there are always ways get
the support you want. Here are some ways you can get help:
 Connect with other individuals, friends and family — Reaching out and opening up to
other people in your life can help provide emotional support.
 Learn more about mental health — There are many resources you can turn to for
learning more about emotional health. Some examples include Psychology
Today, National Institute of Mental Health, and Anxiety and Depression Association of
America.
 Talk to a professional — If you start to feel like your emotional health is starting to
impact you, it may be time to reach out for extra support. With Doctor On Demand,
you can see a psychologist or psychiatrist and find the personalized support you want.

6.0 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

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 Mental illness contributes significantly to the global burden of mental disorders (i.e.,
13% disability adjusted life-years lost). It is therefore important to grasp how and to what
extent environmental exposures affect mental health outcomes. In the past year, 20% of all
adults worldwide suffered from a mental disorder. Mental disorders have a lifetime
prevalence of two out of seven adults and will continue to remain a leading cause of disease
burden. Such disorders have devastating consequences for people’s quality of life and
represent striking challenges for health systems as a whole. Thus, the reduction of mental
disorders is a health priority in both developed and developing countries.
The geographic context of individuals is a central construct in assessing the
contribution of environmental exposures to people’s mental health. While residential
neighborhoods are frequently thought to represent an environmental context, this approach
is increasingly critiqued because it assumes that people are immobile and exposed only to
their residential neighborhoods. As this seems to be too restrictive an assumption, mobility-
based environmental exposure assessments in mental health research have been put
forward as methods that represent exposures more accurately. Such approaches highlight
the importance of exposures that people experience throughout the day and over their
lifetime.
The environment can influence either positively or negatively a person’s mental well-
being. A recent study showed how the idea of living in the midst of the climate crisis was
affecting Greenlanders’ anxiety and depression levels. The effects of our changing climate—
economic uncertainty, job insecurity, extreme and volatile weather patterns, and
displacement—also influence mental health. 
Air pollution, among other environmental threats, is particularly harmful, both
physically—through damage to our lungs, heart, etc.—and mentally. There is now growing
evidence of a link between certain air pollutants and mental illnesses such as depression,
dementia, anxiety and suicide.
Lead, a heavy metal, is also toxic to our nervous system as confirmed
in the latest Global Chemicals Outlook. Even very low levels of lead concentration in
blood may be associated with decreased intelligence, behavioral difficulties and learning
problems in children. 
According to the latest IPBES report, urbanization can increase isolation from nature,
which in turn prevents people from harnessing the mental health benefits of being
surrounded by natural environments. It also creates risky exposure to the type of air pollution
that primarily affects mental health.  
Another study by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center shows a link
between high traffic-related air pollution and anxiety levels. While air pollution and other
environmental hazards pose a threat to our mental health, healthy environments can help us

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feel better and even have a curative effect. Local governments can play a key role in tackling
the mental health crisis by reducing air pollution, enhancing the availability of green spaces
or establishing electric and non-motorized transport initiatives, for instance.
There are multiple financial, social and environmental reasons for preventing and
combating air pollution and for improved management of ecosystems. Human health is
rapidly emerging as yet another fundamental one. Up until recently, the role that a healthy
environment plays in safeguarding human health had been greatly neglected, but this is
changing. Little by little, both citizens and government are realizing that by helping nature we
also improve our well-being.  

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