Malaysia-based digital health platform BookDoc has teamed up with Pfizer to launch a digital awareness campaign on mental health in the country.

WHY IT MATTERS

According to a news report by state media Bernama, the Mental Health for All campaign intends to address citizens' mental health needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while fending off the stigma associated with mental health illnesses.

The campaign aims to promote mental health literacy by providing resources on mental health conditions and management tips via the BookDoc web platform. It also encourages Malaysians to seek professional help and practice self-care through the use of technology

As part of the campaign, the BookDoc mobile app launched a self-assessment quiz that provides a snapshot of a user's mental health. 

BookDoc said people can seek professional help and book a live chat consultation with mental health specialists via its platform. Anonymous users can also receive mental health support from trained volunteers. 

During the COVID-19 lockdown last year, there had been an uptick in the number of Malaysians who experienced symptoms of mental health illnesses, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. The study found high percentages of reported depressive and anxiety symptoms over stress. Young people, particularly students, females and those from lower-income backgrounds, were more susceptible to mental health illnesses. 

The Malaysian Health Ministry previously reported that it received around 43,000 calls through its Psychological First Aid hotline between March and December. 

THE LARGER TREND

Some Asia-Pacific countries have turned to technology to tackle mental health problems among their citizens. This week in Hong Kong, a digital tool was introduced globally that can gauge a person's stress level using sound and word patterns. South Korea, meanwhile, recently announced its plan to invest 30 billion won ($26.2 million) in a research programme to develop digital treatments for depression.

In other news, BookDoc recently entered into a corporate social responsibility partnership with the Philippines-based non-profit organisation Childhope Philippines Foundation. The company said it intended to expand its services and subscriber base in the country.