The first involved a police officer allegedly linked to a hit-and-run incident that killed a traffic officer on Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra in Kuala Lumpur on April 3. The second occurred on April 20, when a man was suspected of fatally assaulting his father at a home in Kampung Masjid Baung Bayam, Kota Bharu.
The issue, experts say, is more complex than it might appear. Psychologist Fauziah Mohd Saad from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris points out that schizophrenia should not be viewed in black-and-white terms.
Most patients, she said, are able to live stable lives, work, and function normally with consistent treatment and support from family and the community.
“The rise in schizophrenia cases is not just about numbers, but a signal that early detection and community support still need strengthening,” she told FMT.
Crucially, while more cases are being identified today, gaps remain in long-term treatment and follow-up care.
Clinically, schizophrenia usually develops gradually rather than suddenly. Early signs include behavioural changes, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, excessive suspicion/paranoia, and declining performance at work or school.
However, these are often mistaken for stress or personal issues, delaying intervention. “If patients are only identified after a crisis occurs, it shows we are still relying on a reactive approach rather than prevention,” Fauziah said.
She went on to explain that the risks associated with schizophrenia typically arise when several factors overlap, particularly when treatment is disrupted.
Without consistent medication and follow-up, symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions can return, affecting a person’s judgement and perception of reality.
Some patients may also lack awareness of their condition, leading them to refuse treatment, while social stigma can discourage families from seeking help early, further isolating those affected.
“Patients do not become high-risk because of the diagnosis alone, but when symptoms are uncontrolled and treatment is interrupted,” she stressed.
Fauziah also pointed to a major gap in community-based support, noting that patients are often treated during crises in hospitals before being discharged without sustained follow-up.
Instead, she said, they need continuous care, including medication monitoring, regular check-ups, psychosocial interventions, and strong family involvement.
Without such support, relapses can go unnoticed until more serious incidents occur.
She added that Malaysia’s mental healthcare approach must shift away from being overly hospital-centric towards a stronger community-based model.
“Patients should not only be treated during crises in hospital. They need ongoing monitoring and support within the community,” she said, emphasising the need to expand early intervention programmes and increase the number of mental health professionals, especially for younger and at-risk groups.
Ultimately, Fauziah believes such cases should serve as a reminder to strengthen the system, not to stigmatise patients.
“With consistent treatment and adequate support, many schizophrenia patients are able to live stable and safe lives in society,” she concluded.