93% women seeking NCWO help suffer from depression - Mas Ermieyati

It has been revealed 93 per cent of women who received assistance from the National Council of Women's Organisation have been reportedly suffering from depression.

Puteri UMNO chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said depression was now common in the community, especially among women but it was not openly discussed due to stigma.

"The culture here is that we don't discuss problems openly. They feared, worried and are not bold in expressing what bothers (them)...this situation will aggravate depression," she told reporters after launching the mental health video entitled 'Depression: Let's Talk' at the Parliament building here today.

The 2.35-minute video is aimed at educating and to raise awareness among women on depression, its cause and the repercussions.

Mas Ermieyati, who is also Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister, said the campaign was being held in conjunction with the World's Health Day celebrated on April 7 every year, as a rememberance to the inception of World's Health Organisation (WHO).

"Let's make the culture of expression as a way to healthy living," she said, adding that the public could upload and share videos on depression and ways to overcome it on Puteri UMNO's offical Facebook and Twitter accounts.

-- BERNAMA