Education Ministry mental health screening upped to twice a year

PARLIAMENT | The Education Ministry will increase the frequency of mental health screening in schools from once to twice a year as part of immediate measures to improve students’ wellbeing.

Addressing the Dewan Rakyat today, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (Harapan-Nibong Tebal) stressed that the mental health of students must be considered a top priority for every school.

“Within our capacity, what we are implementing is the ‘Healthy Mind Screening’ for our students, which will be conducted twice a year.

“From reports (on the screenings), we can identify signs of depression or indicators that a student needs support and intervention. Such students will then be referred to the relevant authorities, including (those with) the Health Ministry,” she said.

As such, Fadhlina assured that psychiatric intervention efforts are already underway.

The minister said this in responding to a query from Umno MP Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu), who cited Unicef’s Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index 2023, including how around six percent of youths experience severe depression.

On Nov 26 last year, the Education Ministry introduced the mental health screening initiative as an early detection tool to identify students with emotional challenges.

Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh (Harapan-Taiping) told Parliament then that students from Standard 5 to Form 6 would be screened, with a second round of screening for students identified to have severe emotional issues.

Reproductive education, inspections in schools

Commenting on recent incidents in schools, Fadhlina said such events are a stark reminder that the safety and well-being of students must never be taken lightly.

Noting that her ministry does not view the incidents as isolated cases, she assured that they will continue to strengthen and enhance safety and well-being in schools.

Such efforts, she said, include immediate reforms to existing mechanisms, with the matter to be an intensive and continuous effort which will face regular evaluations.

Fadhlina detailed that the reform focuses on five areas: mental health, reproductive and social health education, a strict ban on prohibited or dangerous substances, a child protection policy, as well as teacher care and support.

On reproductive and social health education efforts, she said it includes addressing child sexual abuse through awareness and intervention programmes with religious, moral, and cultural values.

“These sessions must be intensive and comprehensive, ensuring students receive the right information and skills to make informed decisions in their daily lives,” she added.

The ban on detrimental substances will be strengthened by reinforcing inspections by schools, in collaboration with government agencies, principals, and discipline teachers, to ensure no such materials enter school premises.

“As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. The ministry believes that the education, character, and development of students formed in schools must be reinforced at home through parental guidance, discipline, and love.

“(This will then) nurture a generation that excels academically, upholds good morals, and bears responsibility toward themselves, their families, friends, and society,” the minister said.

Reporting by Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain, Zarrah Morden, and Haspaizi Zain.

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