Study: Over 1.6 Million M’sians Suffer From Anxiety, The Highest Rate in Southeast Asia

Anxiety disorders or excessive fear or anxiety are one of the most common mental orders, In fact, hundreds of millions of people around the globe or approximately 4% of the population suffer from some form of anxiety.

Moreover, during the Covid-19 pandemic, poor mental health rates by country saw a big surge, seeing a 25% increase in anxiety and depression.

In a recent infographic by Charlotte’s Web Library with data sourced from Our World in Data, the countries with the highest rates of anxiety were revealed, with data from 207 nations recorded.

The study found that 4.88% of the population in Malaysia suffers from anxiety, placing us 52nd in the global ranking and 1st in Southeast Asia. Based on the percentage, approximately 1,610,400 people in our country suffer from a form of anxiety.

The top 20 countries in the study

Malaysia is ranked 52nd globally

Sticking to Southeast Asia, 2nd on the list in the study is the Philippines with 4.75% followed by Myanmar (4.09%), Timor Leste (3.91%), Indonesia (3.7%) and Thailand (3.57%).

Globally, the country with the highest rate of anxiety is Portugal at 8.79% followed by New Zealand (9%) and Brazil (7.77%). Overall, the average prevalence of anxiety around the world is 3.94%, with more than half of countries having anxiety rates higher than that.

For illustration purposes

If you’re experiencing issues with anxiety or know someone who does, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider as soon as possible. In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has an initiative that allows individuals to conduct a self-test on anxiety, stress, burnout and disability. You can find out more about the initiative here.

So, what do you guys think of the study? Should the issue of anxiety and other mental disorder be given more attention by those in power? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Also read: Feeling Stressed, Anxious or Blue? Here’s How You Can Get Professional Help Via MOH’s Initiative