MEF: 'Alarming' Mental Health Issues at Workplace

 The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) is urging for "greater collaboration" among employers, the government, and trade unions to address "alarming" mental health issues in the workplace.

MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman stated mental health is still the least spoken issue among safety and health officers tasked with managing workplace safety issues.

"This becomes naturally entrenched because it is not part of their training and not covered in detail in the existing OSH Act 1994," Hussain said. 

According to him, the domino effect is that mental health issue most likely remains undetected or managed improperly at the workplace. This problem is also worsened by the stigma attached to mental health, often equated to madness, as understood mainly by society and workers. Due to a poor understanding of mental health, it is usually considered taboo to talk about it and seek professional help.

According to Hussain, the issue of mental health in workplaces needs to be addressed urgently, as poor mental health management could trigger suicides among employees.

He also said that based on records, Malaysia recorded 1,142 suicides last year. Over the years, the suicide rate has increased, and the workplace needs to respond to this phenomenon. 

"If not, employers may lose productive employees. Not just losing employees to suicide, but it may influence the emotions and productivity of the entire workforce. Therefore, there is a pressing need for greater collaboration between the workers, trade unions, employers and the government to address mental health issues at the workplace.

In Malaysia, attempted suicide could land a person in jail and/or incur a fine, making it one of around 20 countries worldwide that still considers the act a crime. According to health officials, moves to decriminalise suicide have already begun.

 

What can employers do?

The MEF emphasised the significance of training safety and health departments, human resource departments, the safety and health committee, and medical health units to help pinpoint workplace mental health issues.

According to Hussain, employers should promote excellent mental health practices, provide early detection and recognition tools, and build relationships with local mental health agencies for referral, treatment, and rehabilitation.

He said that safety and health officers and Safety and Health Committee should perform the following to improve their roles:

• Identify work issues caused by mental health,

• Make an effort to improve employees' mental health,

• Help employers in adjusting the work and work conditions to decrease mental stress

• Enable staff with mental health issues to remain at work instead of withdrawing.

According to MEF, it is part of employers' responsibility to safeguard their workforce. MFE also said that a healthy workforce is a highly productive one.

 

Source: MEF