THERE is growing recognition about the mental health of working Malaysians and it is a good sign.
Serious attention to this issue will only come with official acknowledgement that it is even an issue.
Existing figures bear out the need for closer scrutiny. According to the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey, adults suffering depression doubled from 500,000 cases in 2019 to a million in 2023.
The Health Ministry has revealed that 55,000 civil servants were found to be at high risk of mental health issues, leading even to suicidal tendencies.
Malaysia may be moving towards recognising mental health as both a workplace responsibility and a public health priority but the challenge is turning policy commitments into meaningful support for people who need help.
A national workplace mental health policy is in the works, as announced by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. It is a useful step towards treating psychological well-being as part of occupational safety and responsible employment instead of leaving workers to cope with stress and burnout on their own.
As with all health-related matters, prevention should be the priority in tackling mental health issues as well. The mental health policy must address such areas as excessive workloads, work-life balance, workplace bullying and harassment and managers' responsibility to detect distress signals early.
Counselling alone cannot compensate for a workplace culture that contributes to poor mental health. Community-level support structures must also be strengthened. Expand access through primary healthcare, community mental health centres, counselling and appropriate digital services.
Not every person experiencing distress needs psychiatric treatment but everyone should have a clear path to professional help when needed.
Speaking of which, the Health Ministry's target of one psychiatrist for every 40,000 people, compared with the current ratio of one to 69,000, looks like a fairly tall order. The ministry needs a plan to rapidly increase the number of registered psychiatrists from the current pool of roughly 700 nationwide.
The new policy must also set out measurable implementation schedules. These should include clear responsibilities for employers and government agencies, practical guidelines for smaller businesses and measurable indicators of progress.
Public reporting needs to show whether access to care and workplace support have improved rather than merely counting the number of programmes and awareness campaigns. Recognition of this health problem is an essential first step.
The real test will be whether these initiatives translate into healthier workplaces and greater access to needed care. The findings on the mental health of Malaysians are a timely reminder that the workplace is not merely a platform for pursuing key performance indicators and productivity.
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