New Straits Times

Thursday, 30/06/2011

RM56m for mental health

THE government has allocated RM56.1 million for psychiatric treatment of mentally ill patients at all government hospitals this year.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry also provided financial assistance in the form of grants to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the promotion of good mental-health activities.

"To date, RM294,600 has been channelled to the NGOs.

"This year, the ministry has also allocated RM500,000 to publish materials on mental health to be distributed to the public," Liow said in a written reply to Liew Chin Tong (DAP – Bukit Bendera).

Between 2007 to 2010, Liow said 105,941 mental and behavioural disturbance cases were treated by mental institutions and hospitals nationwide, contributing 1.3 per cent of the total hospital admittance cases.

The majority of the patients were male, aged between 25 and 34.