MAY 15 — Every May, Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that mental health is not only about the individual. It is also about the people, places, and systems around us.

This year’s theme, “More Good Days, Together,” introduced by Mental Health America, is especially meaningful for Malaysia’s adolescents and young adults, who are growing up in a world that is fast, competitive, and deeply connected online.

For many young Malaysians, daily life can be demanding.

A school student may be worried about SPM, tuition, peer pressure, or family expectations. A university student may be struggling with assignments, future job prospects, or living away from home. A young worker may be trying to manage career uncertainty, financial pressure, and the challenge of proving themselves in the workplace.

On the outside, many may appear fine; inside, some are quietly overwhelmed.

A good day may simply mean getting through school, university, or work without feeling alone.

For a teenager, it may mean being able to talk to a parent without being judged. For a student, it may mean going through the school day without feeling anxious or left out. For a young adult, it may mean having a friend, lecturer, colleague, or supervisor who notices when something is wrong.

Sometimes, it is enough to feel that someone cares.

This is important because mental health is shaped not only by what happens inside a person, but also by the environment around them.

From a social psychology perspective, our emotions, confidence, behaviour, and sense of identity are strongly influenced by our relationships and surroundings.

A young person who feels accepted at home, respected in school, included by friends, and safe online is more likely to cope with pressure. A young adult who feels supported at university or work is more likely to recover from difficult periods.

Parents can create more good days by listening calmly before advising. Teachers can create good days by noticing students who have become quiet, withdrawn, or unusually irritable. Friends can create good days by checking in instead of assuming everything is fine. — Picture via Pexels

In Malaysia, many young people still hesitate to talk about mental health.

Some fear being seen as weak, dramatic, ungrateful, or lacking faith. Others keep quiet because they do not want to worry their parents or disappoint their teachers.

This silence can make emotional struggles feel heavier.

Changing this culture does not always require big speeches; it often begins with small, everyday responses.

When a young person says they are tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, adults should avoid quickly saying, “Just be positive,” or “Other people have it worse”.

A more helpful response is: “I’m listening. Tell me what has been difficult”.

That simple sentence can make support feel safer.

The theme also reminds us that responsibility must be shared.

Parents can create more good days by listening calmly before advising. Teachers can create good days by noticing students who have become quiet, withdrawn, or unusually irritable. Friends can create good days by checking in instead of assuming everything is fine.

Universities and employers can create good days by building environments that value well-being, not only results and performance.

Schools and universities have a particularly important role.

Mental health education should not only appear during campaigns or special events. It should be part of student life through accessible counselling, peer support, anti-bullying action, balanced academic expectations, and training for teachers and lecturers to recognise early signs of distress.

Young people should grow up knowing that asking for help is normal, not shameful.

In today’s Malaysia, this discussion must also include the role of AI apps and digital mental health tools.

For many young people, the first place they express stress may not be a counselling room, but a phone screen.

A student who is anxious before SPM, a university student feeling overwhelmed by assignments, or a young worker struggling with burnout may first turn to an AI chatbot, mood tracker, wellness app, or online counselling platform.

This is not necessarily a bad thing.

Used wisely, AI tools can help young people put their feelings into words, track their moods, practise breathing exercises, or learn simple ways to manage stress.

For those who feel shy or afraid of stigma, these tools may become a first step towards seeking proper help.

But AI should not become the only support system.

An app cannot fully understand a young person’s family expectations, cultural background, religious values, school pressure, financial worries, or personal history.

It also cannot replace the comfort of a parent who listens, a teacher who notices, a friend who checks in, or a counsellor who is trained to help.

Malaysia should therefore treat AI as a bridge to support, not a replacement for human connection.

Schools, universities, families, and policymakers need to guide young people to use these tools safely, while ensuring that real counselling services, trusted adults, and professional help remain available.

In the spirit of “More Good Days, Together,” technology may open the door, but people must still walk through it together.

Families also need support in this conversation.

Many Malaysian parents care deeply for their children but may not always know how to talk about emotions. Some grew up in households where feelings were rarely discussed openly.

Mental health awareness should therefore include parents, not blame them.

Parents need simple guidance on how to listen, when to seek help, how to manage digital boundaries, and how to support children without adding more pressure.

Mental Health Awareness Month should not end when May ends.

For adolescents and young adults, the goal is not only awareness, but a Malaysia where help is easier to ask for, support is easier to find, and technology is used responsibly.

“More Good Days, Together” is a call to build a culture of care.

In Malaysia, more good days will come not from one campaign alone, but from the daily care we show at home, in classrooms, on campus, at work, and online.

*The author is an Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology & Sociology, Faculty of Arts & Social Science, Universiti Malaya.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.