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How To Get Mental Health Services in Malaysia from Government Hospitals
Looking after your mental health is important but expensive. We totally get it! Private therapy sessions can cost anywhere from RM150 to RM450 per hour. Not to worry though, our government hospitals fortunately provide affordable services to anyone who needs it.
This is the process to obtain mental health services from government hospitals, with further instructions to seek help at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) specifically.
Steps to Apply
- Head to your nearest clinic/government clinic/Klinik Kesihatan Malaysia to obtain a referral letter from the doctor for psychiatric evaluation. This would require you to explain everything to your doctor. Just a brief explanation will do as they will not be the final doctor providing you with treatment.
- Bring the letter (we recommend making a copy for keeps) to the Department of Psychiatry of the hospital. There, they will process your letter and give you an appointment.
First Time Visits
- Head over to the clinic again for a psychiatric evaluation. There is a charge of RM30 for referral letters from private clinics and RM5 for those from government clinics. Subsequent visits cost RM5.
- You will be evaluated by a psychiatrist or Medical Officer, who will determine the severity of your case and if you require medication. They will also refer you for counseling and psychological services if necessary.
- Basic treatment may include conversing about your issues and even some simple tips such as breathing exercises. Don’t worry about speaking about your problems as the doctors are friendly and understanding.
Tips for visiting Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (HKL) specifically
The department is one of the bigger departments of psychiatry in the country and provides psychiatry treatment and mental health promotion to clients in the Klang Valley area.
- Head to Level 4 of the Kompleks Pakar & Rawatan Harian.
- We recommend using Waze to drive to the Klinik Pakar Hospital as driving there is tricky with the massive grounds of the hospital being rather hard to navigate.
- Parking is also usually full so you might want to Grab there instead or use public transport as its near to the gate nearby the monorail.
- If you would like to keep the fact that you are seeking therapy from your employers, it would be better to apply for annual leave as the standard M.C. slip from the hospital has a stamp that shows that it is from the psychiatry clinic.
- Government hospitals are hard to reach by phone so it’s better to make sure you choose an appointment date you’re sure of.
Address: Hospital, Jalan Pahang, 50586 WP, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone number: 03-2615 5555/ 03 - 2615 5770