This report examines the economic impact of maternal depression during the perinatal period (pregnancy
and the first year after childbirth) in Malaysia. Perinatal depression affects 1 in 8 expectant and new mothers in the country, leading to significant physical, social, and psychological consequences for both mothers and their children. Addressing maternal mental health is an urgent public concern.
In this research paper, we are sharing the results gathered from a study conducted based on the results of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 tools used as depression and anxiety screeners respectively. This data was compiled between 1 January 2020 and 31 January 2022.
This paper includes qualitative data gathered from a COVID stories survey we conducted between June-July 2021 that shares real-life stories of individuals who experienced feelings of depression and/or anxiety during the pandemic.
This paper examines the status of youth suicides in Malaysia and provides policy recommendations for prevention.
In the past decade, the number of Malaysians experiencing poor mental health (low mood, worry, feelings of tension and stress) has tripled from 10.7% in 1996 to 29.2% in 2015. This paper estimates the business cost of mental health in terms of absenteeism, presenteeism and staff turnover. On a national level, the cost of mental health issues in the workplace to the economy is conservatively estimated to be RM14.46bn or 1% of GDP in 2018.
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