KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's healthcare system is like a "ticking time-bomb" if nothing is done to address impending health crises, says former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
The crises did not only include communicable and non-communicable diseases but also mental health illnesses.
Khairy said during his tenure as health minister, mental health illnesses came to the fore especially during the pandemic.
"I spent over a year as the health minister and a lot of time was directed towards managing the pandemic. While we did relatively well, I looked at the risk factors for Malaysia and other countries and found that we sit on a ticking time-bomb of diseases.
"There is also a silent pandemic of mental health illness which came to the fore during the pandemic," he said during his speech at the UCSI University Future Leaders Empowerment Series — Meet and Mingle with Khairy Jamaluddin — at its Kuala Lumpur campus today.
In 2021, it was reported that Malaysia recorded an increase of 81 per cent or 1,142 suicide cases, compared to 631 cases in 2020.
Of the total, 467 suicide cases were reported in the first six months of 2021 based on data by police.
However, many people are willing to come forward now and openly talk about the issue.
"More young people are willing to come forward to talk about mental health and the stigma is thankfully, being eroded."
On a separate matter, Khairy urged the youth to not give up their passion and interest in "saving" the world, despite facing difficulties.
"I am sorry to bring the bad news but your generation has been hoisted with a great burden to save the world.
"However, find your passion and go all out (in pursuing the interest) — be it in issues such as climate change, refugees, migration, education, training, or inequality.
"There will be people along the way saying no, we don't need to do this but start from small and build from that as you cannot change the world overnight."