Over 300 had participated in the inaugural Sarawak International Conference on Youth Mental Health

The organising of the inaugural Sarawak International Conference on Youth Mental Health 2025 by Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) together with Institute For Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) is part of our government’s commitment to supporting the mental, emotional, and social well-being of the young generation. 

I have mentioned these during the closing ceremony of the conference which ended on July 29 at The Waterfront Hotel Kuching and had pointed out that mental health cannot be treated in isolation but must be approached holistically by addressing the external systems that influence youth development. I had urged all parties concerned for a cultural shift in how society addresses youth mental wellness—from silence and stigma to proactive support and inclusion. The two-day conference had attracted over 300 participants from all walks of life including students. 

This is because we are living in the digital era in which youth mental health is increasingly subjected to pressures from various factors that had forced our young people to navigate the complex world which is full of academic pressure, economic and employment uncertainty, breakdown in family structures, and sadly, limited access to support systems from relevant bodies.

It is alarming for us to know that according to recent global reports, one in five adolescents is estimated to struggle with mental health issues including in Malaysia whereby the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) in recent years had shown a worrying increase in depression, anxiety, and stress levels among youths as well as those in Sarawak.

What we need to address is the problem of many youths who suffer in silence are willing to seek help, but the help they most needed is either inaccessible, unaffordable, or stigmatised such as in rural and marginalised areas, mental health services remain difficult to get. Even in urban areas, young people often lack the convenience, the confidence, or the safe space to voice their mental health problems.

Thus, the organising of the conference is timely and essential as mental health is fundamentally a development issue. We must be committed to equipping our youths to become the next generation of leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and capable change makers. As such, we must begin by ensuring their mental resilience, emotional well-being and psychological safety.”

Efforts to organise similar conference is encouraged because it serves more than just a discussion platform, but also as a catalyst for change—inspiring new perspectives, fostering impactful connections, and showing our deep commitment to prioritising youth mental health in all areas of development.