Malaysians have been urged to take an active role in suicide prevention by recognising early warning signs among family, friends, colleagues, and students, and providing timely support.
Speaking at the Suicide Prevention Conference 2025, Befrienders Kuala Lumpur patron Lee Lam Thye said suicide should not be treated as a crime but rather as a symptom of emotional pain and a desperate plea for help.
“Suicide is not a crime; it is overwhelming emotional pain, a cry for help. To punish someone for that pain is to add to their suffering. Stigma isolates, silences and prevents them from seeking help,” Lee said.
He hailed Malaysia’s recent move to decriminalise suicide, gazetted on September 10 in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day, as a milestone in the country’s mental health journey.
“This is more than legal reform; it is a promise that we will not condemn those who struggle. Instead, we will say: you deserve empathy, you deserve support, and most of all, you deserve a chance to heal,” he added.
According to Royal Malaysia Police data, suicide cases surged by 79 per cent, from 609 in 2019 to 1,087 in 2023.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS 2023) reported that one million Malaysians aged 16 and above are experiencing depression, with half admitting suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
One in six children also suffers from mental health issues, double the rate recorded in 2019.
Lee stressed that prevention efforts should go beyond statistics and strategies, focusing instead on resilience, hope and the value of every human life.
