Answer for Oral Question PL157

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dayang Chong Chin Yee

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG CHONG CHIN YEE asks the MINISTER OF HEALTH to state the number of individuals who accessed psychiatric, clinical psychology and community-based mental health services in 2025. What measures are being taken to expand diagnostic and assessment capacity, such as involving recognised private clinics?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Kesihatan

In 2025, the number of individuals who accessed mental health services was as follows:

• Adult Psychiatry Division: 11,117 individuals, comprising 984 new cases and 10,133 follow-up cases.
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division: 920 individuals, comprising 168 new cases and 752 follow-up cases.
• Community Psychology Division: 1,605 individuals.
• Clinical Psychology Unit: 3,342 individuals.

These figures indicate an increased demand for psychiatric, psychological and community-based mental health services throughout the country.

To expand diagnostic and assessment capacity, the Ministry of Health supports a Whole-of-Nation approach, whereby recognised private clinics become strategic partners in ensuring access to faster and more accurate assessment and treatment.

The measures currently being implemented include:

• First, collaborative cooperation – initial assessments conducted at recognised private clinics will be coordinated with the referral system of government hospitals. This approach helps to reduce duplication of processes and expedite specialist intervention.
• Second, mental health screening training – provided to general medical practitioners in the private sector so that they can conduct initial assessments and manage mild cases more efficiently.

To ensure patient safety and service integrity, all private practitioners and facilities involved must be registered with the relevant regulatory bodies, namely the Brunei Medical Board (BMB) for doctors and psychiatrists, and the Allied Health Professions Council of Brunei Darussalam (AHPCBD) for clinical psychologists and psychologists.

This approach ensures that every practitioner upholds high standards of professionalism, work ethics and clinical competence in providing treatment to the people.

InsyaAllah, through cooperation between the public and private sectors, mental health diagnostic and assessment capacity will continue to be strengthened, ensuring that the people have access to faster, safer and more effective treatment.