She said many people live in denial when faced with challenges related to mental health and treat the issue as taboo and its existence as something that should not even be acknowledged.

“Some Muslims even interpret mental illnesses as a weakness of faith, and advise those who are vulnerable to simply pray more, fear Allah or completely forget about their situations.

“Why do we readily sympathise with someone with a broken arm but keep away from someone undergoing depression? The sooner we change this perception the better it would be for all of us,” she said in her speech at “Breaking Barriers”, a women’s empowerment conference held by Mercy Mission Malaysia at KDU University College today.

Wan Azizah, who is also the women, family and community development minister, said there was an increase in the number of people who fall into depression and have mental health issues.

The World Health Organisation reported that there were more than 800,000 suicide cases reported globally every year.

She said it was also reported that some 40% of Malaysians will suffer from mental health issues in their lifetime.

She cited a survey last year by the health ministry which found 18,336 people suffering from various stages of depression.

“Of these, 11,811 people were found to suffer from mild depression, 3,680 from moderate depression and 1,682 from severe depression,” she added.