The New Straits Times quoted the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) deputy president Dr Andrew Mohanraj as saying that the tendency to commit suicide was more prevalent in urban areas.

“Urban dwellers, especially the urban poor, are prone to mental health problems. The sense of helplessness from economic hardship and financial hardship, stress related to school performance and exams, as well as stress after the break-up of a relationship, are the main causes of suicides.

“The shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists in the country means the existing mental health professionals are heavily burdened,” Dr Andrew added.

According to him, non-governmental organisations, as well as government clinics and hospitals that provide counselling and treatment for people with mental health problems were “overwhelmed” with the number of patients they currently had to deal with.

He said the key to having patients move on from their mental health problems and to prevent the possible incidence of suicides, was having a strong and supportive environment consisting of family and friends.

Dr Andrew said the five-year National Suicide Prevention Strategic Action Plan was initiated in 2012 with the aim to increase the ratio of psychiatrists to the population from the current 1:150,000 to the ideal 1:50,000.

According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015, the prevalence of mental health issues among adults showed an increasing trend, from 10.7 per cent in 1996 to 29.2 per cent in 2015. A total of 425 suicide cases were also reported last year, with the majority reportedly having suffered emotional and work-related problems.