Published by CodeBlue, Focus Malaysia, News Straits Times & Business Today & The Vibes, image from BusinessToday.
Mental health problems are expected to become the second most common health problem for Malaysians after heart disease in 2020. Based on the latest National Health and Morbidity Survey, three out of every 10 adults aged 16 and above in our nation will suffer from mental health problem.
This is further illustrated by Mercy Malaysia and the Health Ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre. They set up a hotline for those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, the results were not surprising – 46.8 per cent of the calls were from people who have some form of psychological problem.
What many people do not comprehend is the effects of mental health problems can certainly affect economic performance of a country. The cost of mental health problems in the workplace to our economy was estimated at RM14.46 billion in 2018.
All these are in line with the findings of EMIR Research Quarterly Poll for the third quarter of this year, when 72% of Malaysians are worried over their mental health. What’s more, the same poll found Malaysia’s overall National Worry Index (NWI) is at 0.79. This number steps into the area of maximum worry, just one notch below the unhealthy level of 0.80 of maximum worry.
Thus, we can conclude the feeling of worry over socio-economic problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic-related worries for an average Malaysian has intensified.
The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has penetrated each level of society from any conceivable angle. Although the purpose of restrictions on social movement is to protect our citizens from an infection, but it unintentionally puts people at risk of worsening their mental health.
Many non-essential businesses ceased their operations as a result of the Movement Control Order (MCO) that was first implemented in March which saw many citizens being laid off and lost their income. Unemployed people will feel uncertain and insecure, which ultimately undermines their mental health and leads to depression or anxiety.
Moreover, MCO also has a negative impact on people with severe mental illness. Because of anxiety, fear and social rhythm disorders toward the pandemic, people with previous mental illnesses are at greater risk of relapse.
The MCO also forces people to stay at a physical, social distance to avoid infection, so people need to stay at home for a longer period. If one is already living in a toxic home environment, spending more time at home can be stressful and can lead to mental health problems.
Furthermore, a YouGov Omnibus survey in 2019 showed more than 36 percent of Malaysian women had experienced sexual harassment. According to Dr Colleen Cullen, a licensed clinical psychologist, sexual harassment often triggers anxiety, depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In addition, a recent study published by the Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) found low-income people has a higher rates of mental health problems and chronic diseases. Similar trends were found in mental health data in the study by the Social Inequality and Health Malaysia. The lowest income group has the highest rates of mental health problems among adults and children.
Although it is normal to feel stressed, overwhelmed and nervous during the Covid-19 pandemic, individuals and families feeling stressed or facing mental health problems can attempt to get enough sleep, take part in sports activities regularly, eat a healthy diet and avoid smoking, alcohol and drug abuse. With such self-care strategies which are vital for physical and mental health, a person can take control of his or her life.
Keeping busy but with less social media activity can distract from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression and anxiety. Meditation practices can help to stay calm in the face of emotional storms.
Despite all the problems, we should focus on what we can change, accept what we cannot control, remain positive all the time and strive to live according to our values.
Meanwhile, employers have the responsibility to ensure the mental health of their employees is well balanced, as most employees spend a third of their day with their job. They can also provide support through programmes such as allowing vacations, supporting virtual social activities, encouraging work-life balance and so on to keep employees physically and mentally healthy.
They should also create a healthy work environment, and provide workplace consultation for their employees to discuss any problems in helping them find their own solutions to problems or better ways to manage them. This would certainly increase worker productivity and reduce costs associated with turnover, absenteeism, compensation and medical claims.
There is also a need to strengthen communication between employers and employees to enhance mutual understanding. When employees are stressed or frustrated, employers need to practise good listening skills.
Our country has a severe shortage of clinical psychologists, so very few people have access to government mental health services. Mental health specialists in government hospitals are also limited. This figure is alarmingly low, with only one psychiatrist per 100,000 people, and in 2018 the public health service employed just 15 clinical psychologists.
Thus, there is an urgent need to increase human resources, including professionals both academic and clinical and infrastructure capacity to meet future needs.
The government can build better mental health networks in the community, carry out community rehabilitation and prevention work, and improve the ability of patients to return to society. A clear example is increasing the number of health clinics and mobile teams to offer home-based services to mental health patients.
In addition, it also needs to strengthen online counselling services by establishing a more integrated, government funded 24-hour acute crisis centre that can communicate directly with regional mental health services. This includes increasing access from remote areas by narrowing the service gap.
Mental health problems in the workplace should be addressed. One suggestion could be to create more consulting positions in government departments such as federal and state agencies to help those under stress.
Jamari Mohtar and Tam Mei Si are part of the research team of EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
Diterbitkan oleh Berita Harian & Utusan Malaysia.
KESIHATAN mental dijangka menjadi masalah kesihatan kedua paling serius selepas penyakit jantung bagi rakyat Malaysia tahun ini.
Berdasarkan Tinjauan Kebangsaan Kesihatan dan Morbiditi (NHMS) terkini, tiga daripada setiap 10 dewasa berusia 16 tahun ke atas akan menderita masalah kesihatan mental.
Isu ini kian meruncing apabila talian hotline disediakan Mercy Malaysia dan Pusat Kesiapsiagaan dan Tindak Cepat Krisis Kebangsaan (CPRC) bagi sesiapa terjejas dengan wabak COVID-19 menunjukkan 46.8 peratus panggilan mempunyai masalah psikologi.
Apa gagal ditanggapi kebanyakan orang ialah kesan masalah kesihatan mental mempunyai impak kepada prestasi ekonomi negara. Isu kesihatan mental di tempat kerja dianggarkan menelan belanja RM14.46 bilion pada 2018.
Semua ini sejajar penemuan Kaji Selidik EMIR Research untuk suku ketiga 2020, iaitu 72 peratus rakyat Malaysia bimbang kesihatan mental mereka. Kajian sama mendapati Malaysia mencapai skor 0.79 dalam Indeks Kerisauan Nasional (NWI), sekali gus melangkah ke tahap kebimbangan maksimum, hanya satu takuk di bawah tahap tidak sihat 0.80 kebimbangan maksimum.
Oleh itu, kita dapat merumuskan perasaan bimbang terhadap masalah sosioekonomi disebabkan pandemik COVID-19 bagi purata rakyat Malaysia kian meruncing.
Kesan COVID-19 menembusi setiap lapisan masyarakat dari semua sudut boleh difikirkan. Walaupun tujuan sekatan pergerakan sosial adalah untuk melindungi daripada jangkitan, ia secara tidak sengaja membawa risiko memburukkan lagi kesihatan mental.
Kajian diterbitkan Institut Penyelidikan Khazanah (KRI) mendapati golongan berpendapatan rendah mempunyai kadar masalah kesihatan mental dan penyakit kronik lebih tinggi.
Trend sama didapati melalui data kesihatan mental dalam kajian Ketidaksamaan Sosial dan Kesihatan Malaysia.
Golongan berpendapatan paling rendah mempunyai kadar masalah kesihatan mental tertinggi dalam kalangan orang dewasa dan kanak-kanak.
Justeru, majikan mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk memastikan kesihatan mental pekerja mereka adalah seimbang kerana kebanyakan orang menghabiskan satu pertiga hari dengan pekerjaan.
Majikan boleh memberikan sokongan melalui program seperti membenarkan percutian, menyokong aktiviti sosial maya dan menggalakkan keseimbangan kerja-kehidupan untuk memastikan pekerja mereka sihat dari segi fizikal dan mental.
Mereka juga perlu mewujudkan persekitaran bekerja sihat dan menyediakan khidmat kaunseling untuk pekerja mereka membincangkan sebarang masalah serta menyelesaikan masalah atau mencari cara lebih baik menguruskannya.
Ini tentu akan meningkatkan produktiviti pekerja dan mengurangkan kos berkaitan ketidakhadiran, pampasan serta tuntutan perubatan.
Terdapat juga keperluan mengekalkan komunikasi antara majikan dengan pekerja untuk meningkatkan persefahaman. Apabila pekerja mengalami tekanan atau kecewa, majikan perlu mengamalkan kemahiran mendengar yang baik.
Negara kita kekurangan ahli psikologi klinikal agak ketara hingga hanya sedikit orang mendapat khidmat kesihatan mental disediakan kerajaan.
Pakar kesihatan mental di hospital kerajaan juga terhad. Angka ini sangat rendah dengan hanya seorang pakar psikiatri bagi setiap 100,000 orang dengan perkhidmatan kesihatan awam menggajikan hanya 15 pakar psikologi klinikal pada 2018.
Oleh itu, ada keperluan mendesak meningkatkan sumber daya manusia, termasuk profesional daripada bidang akademik atau klinikal dan keupayaan infrastruktur memenuhi keperluan masa depan.
Kerajaan boleh membina rangkaian kesihatan mental lebih baik dalam masyarakat, menjalankan kerja pemulihan dan pencegahan komuniti serta meningkatkan keupayaan pesakit untuk kembali kepada masyarakat.
Contohnya, bilangan klinik kesihatan dan pasukan mudah alih untuk menawarkan perkhidmatan berasaskan rumah kepada pesakit kesihatan mental perlu ditambah.
Kerajaan juga perlu perkukuhkan perkhidmatan kaunseling dalam talian dengan mewujudkan pusat krisis akut 24 jam lebih bersepadu yang dapat berkomunikasi secara langsung dengan perkhidmatan kesihatan mental serantau. Ini termasuk meningkatkan akses dari kawasan terpencil dengan merapatkan jurang perkhidmatan.
Jamari Mohtar dan Tam Mei Si merupakan sebahagian daripada pasukan penyelidik di EMIR Research, sebuah organisasi pemikir bebas yang berfokuskan kepada pencernaan saranan-saranan dasar strategik berteraskan penyelidikan yang terperinci, konsisten dan menyeluruh.
