World Mental Health Day 2026: how to check in, and where to call in Malaysia

This year’s theme

The World Federation for Mental Health has chosen “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change” as the theme for World Mental Health Day 2026. It is a reminder that people who have lived with mental health conditions have a great deal to teach the rest of us about what helps.

More Malaysians are reaching out

The Ministry of Health’s free psychosocial support line, Talian HEAL 15555, answered 27,738 calls in 2023, 42,990 in 2024 and 90,981 in 2025. By mid-June 2026 it had already taken 66,442 calls, and more than 230,000 since it launched in October 2022. Most callers are aged 18 to 35.

The national picture shows why. The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 estimated that about 1 million people aged 15 and over have depression, double the 2019 figure, with the highest rate among those aged 16 to 19. Mental health problems among children aged 5 to 15 rose from 7.9% to 16.5%.

There are also signs of progress. Attempted suicide is no longer a criminal offence in Malaysia since 2025, removing a barrier that kept some people from seeking help. The Ministry of Health runs 39 MENTARI community mental health centres, and in September 2026 it launched guidelines on supporting families and communities after a suicide.

How to check in on someone

• Pick a quiet moment: a walk, a drive, a teh tarik.
• Ask directly and kindly: “You’ve seemed a bit down lately. How are you, really?”
• Listen more than you talk. You do not need to fix anything.
• Do not judge or rush to advice. “That sounds really hard” goes a long way.
• Encourage support: a trusted person, a helpline, or a doctor. Offer to help make the call.
• Follow up a few days later.

If you are worried that someone might harm themselves, it is okay to ask about suicide directly. Asking does not put the idea in their head, and it can be a relief to be asked.

Looking after yourself

Small, steady habits help: regular sleep, daylight and movement, time with people who make you feel safe, and breaks from the news and your phone. Try a short breathing practice: breathe in for four counts, hold for four, breathe out for six, and repeat for a few minutes.

Helplines worth saving

How a GP can help

Your family doctor is a good place to start. A GP can talk through how you are feeling, screen for depression and anxiety, check for physical causes such as thyroid problems, start treatment, and refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist or a MENTARI centre if needed. Several clinics in our directory list mental health counselling among their services.

Where to get checked in Kuala Lumpur

Any GP clinic can assess you and arrange tests or referrals. Our Kuala Lumpur clinic directory lists opening hours, phone numbers and directions as clinics are added.

Browse the clinic directory

Frequently asked questions