This commentary was co-authored by Fiona Samuels and Aisling Murray (Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London); Sharlini Palar (Friends to Mankind); Koggelavani Muniandy (GoodKids Academy); Prem K. Shanmugam (Solace Wellbeing Group); Nur Azmiah Zainuddin (Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia); and Johanna Riha, Paula Morgado, and Claudia A. Lopes (UNU Global Health), and highlights the urgent need for stronger research, policies, and services that respond to the needs of young people.
The article builds on discussions from the Youth Mental Health and Digital Well-Being in Malaysia stakeholder consultation co-convened by UNU Global Health and M-BRIGHT in Kuala Lumpur in May 2026. Bringing together representatives from government, including representatives from Ministries of Health, Education, Digital, the private sector, NGOs, UN agencies, academia and clinicians, the consultation explored priority concerns, service gaps, and opportunities to strengthen support for youth in Malaysia.
Suggested citation: "Addressing youth mental health in Southeast Asia: a call to action with a spotlight on Malaysia," The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific (2026)
