Suicides: 356 cases recorded from 2014 till June this year

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 -- From 2014 till June this year, there were 356 suicide cases on record in the country.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said that 69 of the cases involved non-citizens.

"To face this problem, KKM (the Health Ministry)  has made available screening services and treatment for people with mental health issues at 60 government hospitals, 1,001 health clinics  where the service is at the primary level and at 25 Community Mental Health Centres,” he said during the oral Question-and-Answer Session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was replying to a question from R.S.N Rayer (PH-Jelutong) who wanted to know the steps the ministry was taking to tackle the problem of suicide in view of the increasing number cases in the country lately.

Dr Lee added that KKM had  400 psychiatrists who were stationed at the ministry's facilities and 298 family medicine specialists for counselling on treatment for those suffering depression.

-- BERNAMA