KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — On the occasion of the local launch of the ‘State of the World’s Children’ (SOWC) 2021 report, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is organising a dialogue that will focus on mental health among children, with the title ‘Breaking the Silence’, tomorrow.
During the virtual dialogue session, three panellists will share their thoughts and views on mental health issues. They are Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, who is UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam; youth advocate on mental health, S Vaismita and International Counselling Association of Malaysia (PERKAMA International) president Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Mohd Hussin.
The dialogue will also discuss the need to strengthen access to mental health service in schools and society to avoid incidents of attempted suicide among children in Malaysia.
Apart from that, the discussion will also touch on UNICEF’s flagship global report that focuses on mental health of children, adolescents and caregivers.
The SOWC 2021 examines child, adolescent and caregiver mental health. It focuses on risks and protective factors at critical moments in the life course and delves into the social determinants that shape mental health and well-being.
It calls for commitment, communication and action by governments and public and private sector partners as part of a comprehensive approach to promote good mental health for every child, protect vulnerable children and care for children facing the greatest challenges.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is expected to deliver a keynote address at the dialogue session.
Sources: BERNAMA