Karim Calls on All Sectors to Pay Joint Attention to Youth Mental Health

(Kuching, 30th) Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim pointed out that youth mental health should no longer be regarded as a marginal issue, but should become a mainstream concern that requires joint responsibility and proactive responses from all sectors.
At the closing ceremony of the "2025 Sarawak International Youth Mental Health Conference" held here yesterday, he emphasized that youth mental health issues are becoming increasingly serious and must be addressed as soon as possible.
"According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), depression, anxiety, and stress are on the rise among youth, a phenomenon that is also present in Sarawak."
"What is even more worrying is that many young people suffer in silence. It's not that they are unwilling to seek help, but rather that help is often hard to access, costly, or there is severe social stigma," he said.
Abdul Karim stated that this conference is not only an academic forum, but also an initiative to drive visibility, empowerment, and cross-sectoral collaboration, aiming to establish mental health as a key topic of development.
"If we truly hope for young people to become the leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and agents of social change in the future, we must start by ensuring they have psychological resilience, emotional well-being, and mental safety."
He stressed that systemic adjustments must be made in the areas of education, technology, family, and policy frameworks, and that mental health should be integrated into the broader ecosystem of youth empowerment, including employment opportunities, digital access, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.
"We must foster a culture that encourages youth to speak openly, provide them with meaningful platforms, and equip them with tools to continually face challenges—not just in times of crisis."
He called for this conference to be the starting point for closer cross-sector collaboration, more inclusive policies, and sustainable mental health planning that aligns with the goals of the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 for Sarawak.
"We are at a turning point. We already have the knowledge, tools, and passionate individuals present to make a real impact on youth mental health."
"What we need next is the courage to act, the humility to listen, and the willingness to drive systemic change."
"Let us jointly build a Sarawak and Malaysia where, no matter who the youth are or where they come from, they can confidently say: 'I am seen, I am heard, I am supported.'" he emphasized.