Mind, Heart, and Dignity: Reimagining Mental Health for Older Adults in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia is in the midst of an ageing population with estimates that 15% of the country's population will be over 60 by 2040 and this increases mental health and social wellbeing pressures alongside an ongoing stigma. This scoping review provides a mapping of national policies pertinent to the mental health and dignity of older people, their benchmarking against models overseas and their interrogation against the thematic issues ranging from the cultural dynamics to the care in the community and the execution barriers in the system. In this case, using established scouring methods, sources from 2015-2025, such as Google Scholar, government reports, policy documents and Malaysian evidence was foregrounded along with comparative international perspectives and findings were synthesised thematically rather than being empirically appraised. Malaysia's policy scaffolding-National Policy for Older Persons (2011), National Health policy for Older Persons (1995) and National Mental Health Policy 1998/2012 signal commitments to dignity, empowerment and access, but gaps in delivery continue to exist as a result of urban-rural disparities, low mental health literacy, cultural stigma and workforce constraints. Cross-cutting themes: Community Anchored Models, Integrated Care Pathways. International exemplars show viable legislative and service architectures. On the whole, the frameworks of Malaysia are in line with global good practice but need execution uplift through more community engagement, targeted workforce development, and cross-sectoral integration. Priorities include scaled-up PAWE centres, the embedding of elder mental health services in primary care, culturally interventions and calibrated legal mechanisms to improve familial accountability.