Almost 25,000 calls made to 'HEAL Line 15555' mental health helpline this year

The National Mental Health Crisis Line or HEAL Line 15555 (Help with Empathy and Love) has received a total of 24,346 calls as of August this year, making it the first crisis hotline in the country. Health Director-General Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan revealed that out of the total number of calls, 15,907 clients received support and emotional help, while 8,479 clients were given specific intervention.

Among those who received specific intervention, 206 cases were related to suicidal behavior, which included both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Additionally, 89 cases of suicidal ideation were treated, and 117 cases of suicide attempts were successfully referred to hospitals for treatment through the activation of MERS999 and collaboration with the police and emergency departments.

The hotline has been operating since October 21, 2022, and is handled by psychology (counselling) officers from the Health Ministry. It operates from 8am to midnight daily, including public holidays. Dr Muhammad Radzi further mentioned that the ministry is implementing other initiatives such as the Mysave (Malaysia Suicide Awareness Voice of Hope) program and a suicide prevention training module for frontline staff.

The Mysave program, which was launched on July 31, aims to monitor media coverage of suicides. Additionally, the National Suicide and Fatal Injury Registry Malaysia (NSFIRM) is expected to be operational in 2024. This system will allow for the collection of detailed and accurate statistics on suicide incidents and the implementation of targeted prevention measures.

According to Dr Muhammad Radzi, the police have reported a slight decrease in the number of suicide cases, with 981 cases in 2022 compared to 1,142 cases in 2021.