Mental health problems afflicting teens increasing

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.yourhealth.com.sg/content/mental-health-problems-afflicting-teens-increasing-says-liow

The Health Ministry in Malaysia is concerned over the increase in the number of children aged 15 and below suffering from mental health issues.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said statistics showed that mental health problems involving the group rose to 13 per cent in 1996, 19.4 per cent in 2006 and 20 per cent last year.

"We are very worried about the worsening trend in the mental health of teenagers and children because this will affect national development as they are national assets," he told reporters after opening the national-level World Mental Health Day 2012 here.

He noted that teens and children today were heavily influenced by the Internet which led to less parent-child interaction while parents who were busy with their careers did not play their supportive role.

Liow said the ministry would make efforts to tackle the problem including preparing a national strategic plan on mental health and increasing the number of Community Health Centres from next year.