How Budget 2026 Should Address Mental Health Needs

Cindy Chew, Head of Community Development, Thrive Well | Associate Professor Dr Amer Siddiq bin Amer Nordin, Consultant Psychiatrist, University Malaya Medical Centre

06-Oct-25 16:00

How Budget 2026 Should Address Mental Health Needs

Pause
Embed

Mental health is one of the most urgent public health issues in our population, yet often the funding for mental health services falls far behind compared to other health issues. Ahead of the tabling of Budget 2026, we take a look at the gaps in mental health care and access that need to be addressed, and how much that can be plugged with more funding, with Cindy Chew, Head of Community Development at Thrive Well and Assoc prof Dr Amer Siddiq bin Amer Nordin, consultant psychiatrist at University Malaya Medical Centre.

Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.

Image Credit: Shuttertsock

Produced by: Lim Sue Ann

Presented by: Lim Sue Ann

This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories: health policy

Tags: the bigger picture, health & living, budget 2026, Belanjawan 2026, Budget-2026-Mahsing, mental health, social determinants of health, poverty, health equity, healthcare access, Budget2026,

Today’s Shows

11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) We explore the move from “prime time” to “scroll time” with Amin Ashaari, Co-Founder of SoyaCincau.

12:00 PM

Just For Kicks

(REPEAT) After the North London Derby, Arsenal will now have to face Liam Rosenior's Chelsea. Will they pass this test? Our pundits share their thoughts and look ahead to the weekend's games.

1:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

(REPEAT) Kam, Michael Gong and Sudais Ferhard get together to talk about Nostradamus, revenge of the nerds and Seedance videos that are wildly popular now.

2:00 PM

Ringgit & Sense

(REPEAT) Yuvarajan Periyan, licensed financial planner and co-founder of Uno Advisers talks about 'Pig Butchering' scams.

2:30 PM

The Property Show

(REPEAT) Datuk Ho Hon Sang, REDHA President discusses Malaysia’s resilient property market and 2026 outlook.

3:00 PM

Best of The Bigger Picture

(REPEAT) We often hear about neighbourhoods being evicted, houses being torn down and communities organising against the state government or private developers. In this episode, we discuss the politics of eviction in Malaysia.

4:00 PM

Best of Evening Edition

(REPEAT) A Skeptic’s Take on the Epstein Files

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

The Life Scientific speaks to neuropsychologist Professor Julia Simner, who runs the Multisense lab at the University of Sussex and has pioneered research into understanding how special brains process our sensory world in special ways.

PROGRAMMES