MENTALLY ILL SHOULD BE CATEGROISED AS DISABLED PERSONS - NIOSH

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The National Institute of Occupational
Safety & Health (NIOSH) is proposing to the government to include mentally ill
individuals under the disabled persons category.

NIOSH chairman Lee Lam Thye said in previous years, mental health had been a
topic of low priority for the government and community as compared to other
health problems but increasingly as reflected worldwide, it had gained more
prominence.

He also said that the promotion of good mental health among Malaysians
of all age groups should be accorded due priority this year and be listed on the
national agenda of major health and workplace issues to be addressed.

He said mental health problems, especially stress-related among Malaysians
including school students, were a matter of serious concern and need to be
addressed urgently so that problems like stress, anger, violence and other
mental disorders such as psychosis, depression and suicides could be avoided.

"In Malaysia, we need to do more for those who suffer from mental illness.
On the welfare services front, the government should include the mentally ill as
disabled persons.

"And they should be accorded opportunities in employment to help them return
to the mainstream and not be a burden to society," he said in a statement
Saturday.
--BERNAMA