KUCHING — Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, has called for youth mental health to be treated as a central national agenda rather than a marginal issue, highlighting its growing urgency.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Sarawak International Conference on Youth Mental Health 2025 at The Waterfront Hotel on Tuesday, he cited alarming data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), which indicates that one in five Malaysian teenagers is at risk of developing mental health problems. The minister added that Sarawak is witnessing a similar trend.
“The increase in depression and emotional distress among youth is a serious signal that calls for comprehensive action involving all sectors—government, education, community and private,” he said.
Abdul Karim expressed concern over the barriers that prevent youth from accessing help, including the high cost of mental health services, limited availability of treatment, and persistent social stigma. Many, he noted, suffer in silence—not from unwillingness to seek help, but from systemic obstacles.
He described the two-day conference as more than an academic discussion, stating that it served as a key platform to foster mental resilience, promote open dialogue, and embed mental health in the broader context of youth development.
“To build a generation of future leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs, we must first ensure they have psychological safety and emotional strength,” he emphasised.
He further called for mental health considerations to be integrated across multiple facets of development—including education, digital technology, entrepreneurship, family systems, public policy, and leadership.
Encouraging society to foster a culture where youth can speak freely and safely, Abdul Karim urged for collective action to overhaul existing systems.
“We already have the knowledge, the tools and the resources. Now is the time to listen humbly and act boldly,” he said. “Every young person deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported.”
