Malaysia needs more specialists for mental patients

• Malaysia has only 252 psychiatrists, 80 clinical psychologists and 228 family medical specialists in health clinics to detect and treat patients with mental illness

By 2020, 10 per cent of Malaysia's population (35 million) will experience mental illness. To prepare for this, the country needs to produce more psychiatrist, psychologists and family medical specialists.

According to Dr Raba'iah Mohd Salleh, the director of Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Tanjung Rambutan, more health clinics and mental health centres should be set up.

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