Addressing youth mental health in Southeast Asia: a call to action with a spotlight on Malaysia

Abstract

In Malaysia, 1 in 6 children aged 5–15 experience mental health difficulties, with this burden doubling between 2019 and 2023.1 Additionally, approximately 46% of youth report difficulties related to socialisation, including problems playing with others, making or maintaining friendships, or experiences of bullying; and 17% reported emotional difficulties, such as persistent worry, unhappiness, nervousness, clinginess, or being easily frightened. Clinical levels of depression have also been identified in 7.9% of individuals aged 16–19 years and 7.6% of those aged 20–29 years.