Response to Written Question PT24

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YANG BERHORMAT DR. AWANG HAJI MAHALI BIN HAJI MOMIN

QUESTION:

YANG BERHORMAT DR. AWANG HAJI MAHALI BIN HAJI MOMIN asks the MINISTER OF HEALTH to state the effectiveness of the Ministry's plans to improve mental well-being programs aimed at reducing the number of people facing these issues. Several programs have been implemented by the Ministry to address mental health issues, and these programs are an important aspect of the quality of life of the community.

YANG BERHORMAT MINISTER OF HEALTH

ANSWER:

In summary, viewing the number of people with mental health issues may not be the best parameter to measure the progress or effectiveness of mental health programs. These figures are likely to continue to rise in the short to medium term due to several social factors including global economic pressures, rising living costs, unemployment rates, drug misuse as well as the pervasive nature and addiction of social media. The increase in the number of people with mental health issues is also due to increased awareness and reduced stigma regarding mental issues, encouraging more people to seek help.

More important to monitor is the increase in mental health literacy levels and the reduction of stigma and discrimination. Although this will increase help-seeking behavior, and consequently the number of people accessing mental health services will also increase, but in the long term, with integrated biological, psychological, social, and spiritual support and treatment, the Ministry hopes it will make Brunei Darussalam a more resilient country with overall better mental health regardless of the number of individuals diagnosed with mental health conditions.

As part of the Ministry of Health's efforts to disseminate awareness on mental health and related issues, the Department of Psychiatry Services, the Department of Clinical and Community Psychology Services, and the Mental Health Strategy Unit at the Health Promotion Centre continuously conduct several mental health programs. These programs target various community groups, particularly students and school staff as well as higher education institutions, workplaces, and the general public. These programs are conducted year-round to further enhance mental health literacy and awareness among the public, so they are more sensitive to mental health issues and personal well-being, more confident in identifying early signs of mental health problems within themselves, aware of the available mental health services in Brunei Darussalam, and eventually, it is hoped that stigma regarding mental health and disorders in the community can be somewhat erased.

Currently, under the Mental Health Strategy Unit, Health Promotion Centre, there are 3 main programs responsible for promoting the importance of mental health and well-being in society. These programs are:

1. Brunei Free from Bullying Program targeted at all students and members of primary and secondary schools, as well as higher education institutions, including teachers, general staff, and parents. (At this time, the program, previously conducted alongside the Ministry of Education, is being reviewed and revised for improvement).

2. i-Mind Program, which aims to increase public understanding, particularly among workers in workplaces, both government and private, about the importance of mental health and well-being, and also a platform for sharing ways to practice mental health care and fostering a cheerful, positive, and resilient work environment. Several government and private workplaces have already collaborated with the Mental Health Strategy Unit under the i-Mind Program and successfully implemented initiatives focusing on continuous mental health and well-being care in their respective workplaces, such as Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB), Baiduri Bank Sdn Bhd., Brunei Gas Carriers, and AITI. Among the positive and commendable achievements for these workplaces are the initiatives that encourage and provide financial support for obtaining mental health assistance (in private clinics) whenever needed for all staff under those organizations.

3. Mind Your Mind Program, which also shares similar goals as the other programs in enhancing mental health literacy among the community and residents of the country. This program, which began as a mental health awareness campaign in 2014, has now undergone several transformations, including expanding “community engagement” through social media platforms, notably its Instagram reach “@mindyourmind_brunei”.

Apart from the above programs, the Department of Psychiatry Services, the Department of Clinical and Community Psychology Services, and the Mental Health Strategy Unit at the Health Promotion Centre are often invited and encouraged to collaborate with stakeholders to organize mental health-themed briefings, forums, and outreach. The number of invitations from other stakeholders has increased continuously, by 182% over the past 4 years, in line with the growing public attention and interest in mental health topics. In 2023, a total of 152 mental health activities were conducted by these three departments and units. In 2024, the same number of activities increased to 203.

Among the specific activities carried out in 2023 and 2024 include:

1. Collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPUSB) in conducting mental health briefings, forums, exhibitions, and outreach to Sixth Form Centres and Higher Education Institutions in all four districts.

2. Holding Workplace Mental Health Outreach “Mental Health as a Basic Right” alternately at each ministry in Brunei Darussalam, where each ministry got the chance to be the ‘host’ for the program monthly, across a one-year period starting from October 2023 to October 2024.

3. Involvement of the Ministry of Health as a co-organizer in Majlis Ilmu 2024, themed "Addressing Mental Symptoms". The Ministry of Health was also entrusted and responsible as the main curator of the exhibition and managing the Forum of Majlis Ilmu 2024.

4. Collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Religious Affairs in conducting the “Basic Mental Health Training Course for Community Leaders” over 12 weeks for 20 selected Imams, Ustaz, and Daie.

Feedback received from program participants and attendees of mental health events organized have shown a satisfactory trend, where more than 80% of attendees and program participants felt the program objectives were achieved. Feedback from the mental health exhibition organized in September 2024 during the Majlis Ilmu event also showed that more than 86% of attendees gained a better understanding, new insights, and further knowledge about mental health after attending the exhibition.

Furthermore, feedback received from community leaders who participated in the Basic Mental Health Training Course, conducted from July to October 2024, showed that 70-80% felt confident and capable of identifying mental disorders and problems, understanding the factors contributing to mental health, able to use self-care strategies in managing mental health challenges, and knowledgeable about access to treatment and mental health services available in Brunei Darussalam.

Alhamdulillah, as a follow-up to this training course, some community leaders have initiated and conducted their own "basic guidance and counseling courses for guidance and counseling teachers in Arabic and Religious schools at the Department of Islamic Studies". Other than teaching about mental health issues among teachers, school staff, and students, it is also an opportunity to further spread awareness about mental health.

Apart from the previously mentioned mental health programs, the Ministry of Health, together with Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan (KUPUSB), has published a book titled “Practices for Mind and Emotional Well-being Care, Prayer and Zikir Guidebook”. This initiative was made as a continuation of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia's government's efforts in adhering to the Titah of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on the importance of one mental health treatment being Quran-guided. This book was launched by Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during the Majlis Ilmu 2024 event. The publication of this book was well-received by the public, and it has begun to be distributed to attendees witnessing the Majlis Ilmu 2024 exhibition. Insya Allah, the book will be translated into English for broader public use.

In 2025, the Ministry of Health through the Department of Psychiatry Services, the Department of Clinical and Community Psychology Services, and the Mental Health Strategy Unit at the Health Promotion Centre will, as usual, continue its efforts to conduct mental health programs. Among the conducted programs is a refresher course for staff working in the Mental Health field, conducted over 5 weeks from January 2025. This shows the Ministry of Health's concern for its workforce regarding the importance of mental health care from emotional and spiritual aspects. This measure hopes to reduce the risk of stress and burnout among staff in the workplace.

Currently also being conducted is the “Basic Mental Health Training Course for Islamic Caregivers (Perantis SkiPPA)” placed in hospitals under the Ministry of Health. This course is a continuation of previous training courses and serves as a platform to spread the importance of addressing mental health issues using an integrated treatment approach, which includes medical therapy and religious therapy (including Zikir, Al-Qur’an, and prayer therapy).

This year too, insya Allah, a mental health program “S.T.A.R REACH” specifically targeted for children and young people going through or about to undergo a life transition stage, such as secondary school students transitioning to university, or entering the workforce, will also be conducted. This program is expected to help young people prepare themselves for any life challenges, adapt and manage their expectations, and build confidence and resilience.

The Ministry of Health will continuously monitor feedback from any program and initiative conducted. It hopes this will provide an insight into the public's mental health literacy level, evaluate the effectiveness of the programs and initiatives, and importantly obtain suggestions for improvements from the public. As emphasized before, Mental Health is Everyone’s Business, thus a “Whole-of-Nation” approach in ensuring the effectiveness of any Ministry of Health's efforts and initiatives to make Brunei Darussalam's society and citizens have optimal and resilient mental health is very important and taken seriously.