Research Findings from Universiti Malaya Update Understanding of Mental Health Diseases and Conditions (A Longitudinal Study of Psychological Distress Among Youth in Peninsular Malaysia and Associated Factors).

A recent study conducted by researchers at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has found that the prevalence of psychological distress (PD) among youth in Peninsular Malaysia is a growing concern. The study analyzed data from a cohort of 416 participants who underwent mental health assessments at ages 15 and 20. The prevalence of PD significantly increased from 15.9% at age 15 to 34.6% at age 20. Factors such as parental mental health problems, Indian and other ethnicities, lower maternal education attainment, and alcohol consumption were found to be significantly associated with PD in youth. The study highlights the need for increased access to mental health care and the improvement of surveillance and prevention programs to protect the psychosocial well-being of youth. [Extracted from the article]