End silence on mental health: Empower youth to speak, support must go beyond policies

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, July 29: Addressing youth mental health requires a cultural shift beyond professional interventions and policy documents, replacing silence with openness and empowering young people to seek support free from stigma.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah made this strong call to action during the closing ceremony of the Sarawak International Conference on Youth Mental Health 2025 held at a hotel here today.

Citing data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), Abdul Karim expressed concern over the rising levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among Malaysian youth, including in Sarawak.

“What is more concerning is that many youths suffer in silence not because they are unwilling to seek help, but because help is either inaccessible, unaffordable, or stigmatised.

“In rural and marginalised areas, mental health services remain sparse. Even in urban areas, young people often lack the language, the confidence, or the safe space to voice their inner struggles,” he said.

He noted that youth today face unprecedented challenges, from academic pressures and economic uncertainty to digital overload, fragmented family structures, and limited access to consistent support systems.

“To truly support our youth, we must re-align the broader ecosystem—education, technology, community norms, family environments, and policy frameworks—towards their needs.

“Silence can no longer be our default response. We must create a culture that allows young people to speak openly, provides them with meaningful platform for expression, and equips them with the tools to manage challenges – not only in time of crisis, but proactively and consistently,” he said.

Abdul Karim described the conference, themed ‘Driving Inclusivity in Youth Mental Wellness’, as more than just an academic gathering but as a movement for inclusion, visibility, and empowerment.

“If we are committed to equip our youth to become the next generation of leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we must begin by ensuring their mental resilience, emotional well-being and psychological safety,” he said.

He expressed hope that the conference would not only facilitate knowledge-sharing but also act as a catalyst for systemic change, encouraging fresh perspectives, building impactful connections, and igniting a stronger commitment to prioritise youth mental wellness across all sectors.

“Let it be a seed that grows into stronger cross-sector partnerships, more inclusive policies, and sustainable mental health programming, especially under the 12th and 13th Malaysia Plan and Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030,” he said.

Abdul Karim reaffirmed his Ministry’s commitment to championing youth mental, emotional, and social well-being as an integral part of Sarawak’s broader youth empowerment agenda.

“Mental health cannot be treated in isolation, but it must be part of the ecosystem that includes education, employment, digital access, entrepreneurship, and leadership development,” he added.

He welcomed collaborations and innovative ideas emerging from the conference, particularly those targeting rural youth, culturally specific Sarawakian contexts, and marginalised communities.

“We have the knowledge, the tools, and the people in this room to move the needle on youth mental wellness. What we need now is the courage to act, the humility to listen, and the will to change systems.

“Let us build a Sarawak and a Malaysia where every youth, regardless of who they are or where they come from, can say: ‘I am seen, I am heard, and I am supported’,” he urged. — DayakDaily

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