Shah alam: A total of 1,020 out of 36,428 secondary school students in Selangor have shown early signs of being at high risk for depression, the Selangor State Legislative Assembly was informed today. State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman, Jamaliah Jamaluddin, revealed that these students were identified through the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), representing 2.8 percent of those screened.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the findings are based on the Minda Sihat (Healthy Mind) Mental Health Screening Analysis for the 2024/2025 school session. The analysis indicated that overall psychosocial behavior among students remains under control. Jamaliah emphasized that mental health concerns are being addressed through intervention programs, which are now being expanded to primary schools, particularly targeting Year 5 and Year 6 students, to raise early awareness about mental health and build emotional resilience.

The interventions aim at emotional and behavioral development, early prevention activities, and capacity-building for school guidance and counselling teachers. These include workshops on mental health strategies such as relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, physical activities, and shoulder and neck massages.

Jamaliah was responding to a question from Azmizam Zaman Huri (PH-Port Klang) regarding immediate measures taken by the Selangor Education Department (JPN) to address depression and anxiety among students in the 2024/2025 session. She added that Selangor JPN is also running the Healthy Mind programme with specialized modules covering counseling sessions, emotional awareness, coping skills, 10B stress management, breathing techniques, mindfulness, anger management, problem-solving, positive thinking, and effective communication.

She concluded by stating that these initiatives serve as early preventive measures and aim to strengthen students’ mental well-being from the primary level.