With increasing work-related mental health issues cropping up in Malaysia, it was no surprise to read in The Star last month that the growing problem has cost the national economy approximately RM14.6bil (“Mental health hurts economy badly”, Feb 18).
The findings, from a study conducted by Relate Mental Health Malaysia, were revealed at “The Business Costs of Mental Health” forum in Kuala Lumpur in February. Relate founder Dr Chua Sook Ning also addressed the problems of organisations being unaware of how to deal with employees’ mental health issues.
Dr Chua does an incredible job of highlighting mental health issues through her Facebook page and other avenues, and it’s great to see like-minded mental health practitioners doing what they can to raise awareness of issues such as work-related stress that can affect mental health.
According to Dr Chua’s study, over 4.5 million working adults in Malaysia reported mental health issues in 2018, and it’s been estimated that one in three people in Malaysia will experience similar issues at some point in their lives.
It was sad to read Dr Chua’s observation that people in Asian countries are likely to manifest physical ailments stemming from mental ill-health rather than admit that they’re feeling anxious or stressed.
Unlike a physical injury, being stressed or depressed can be difficult to spot, and the problem of treating those issues is amplified by cultural perspectives of mental health.
A study conducted here in 2009 by Dr Reiko Yeap and Prof Wah Yun Low found that 61% of Malaysians at the time believed that the sufferer is to blame for their condition, while over three-quarters (76%) believed that there’s “no such thing as mental health”. Coupled with the lack of legislation to help address mental health issues in the workplace, such historical attitudes have predictably led to people being reluctant to admit that they’re struggling, let alone seek help.
And yet, Malaysians are always quick off the mark to seek medical attention when it comes to potential viruses and infections, or when they meet with physical injury. We need to apply that same diligence to our mental health: if our minds aren’t functioning well, we can’t be at our best. And the longer we neglect mental health issues, the worse they become.
Dr Chua explained that part of people’s reluctance to seek help comes down to a fear that their issues will become known once they confide in a therapist or counsellor. It’s an understandable concern: it’s not easy to share our problems, particularly if they concern something we’ve never disclosed to anyone.
Regardless of ability, therapists take their clients’ confidentiality very seriously, and even case notes will be stored securely, either physically or in encrypted digital form. In your first session with a therapist, he or she will walk through the importance of confidentiality with you and what it entails. If you have any questions, he or she would be happy to answer them.
Another misguided belief that some people hold is that anyone who sees a therapist must be weak or crazy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. From time to time, we all struggle with mental health issues – we wouldn’t be human, otherwise.
For example, perhaps we need to work through strong emotions such as grief and loss, get help with processing a traumatic experience, deal with negative thinking, develop self-confidence or figure out a career change. There’s an inexhaustible list of reasons why we might see a therapist. It doesn’t mean that we’re weak or crazy; it means we are invested in our health and we recognise that mental and physical well-being go hand-in-hand.
As Dr Alvin Ng, head of psychology at a local university, puts it, “Mental health is about being able to make everyday decisions, focus, and problem-solve throughout the day while also managing frustrations and elations along the way – all that contributes to daily functioning.
“Mental health is not about thinking you’re more sane than others and that you don’t need any help.”
Overcoming the stigma of mental health issues is crucial if services that can help people in Malaysia are to flourish. We need to understand that if we don’t work together, the problem will only continue to grow.
We need to have more conversations, and we need to have greater outreach so that people come to understand that mental health issues are real and also normal. To struggle with depression or stress, anxiety or addiction doesn’t mean that a person is broken or less worthy. They simply need help to learn how to deal with their issues. In getting that help, they become equipped with the tools and resources necessary to lead a healthy and enjoyable life.
We all need help and support at some points throughout our lives, and the more we invest in and use mental health education and services, the greater the benefits will be for all of us.
Sunny Side Up columnist Sandy Clarke has long held an interest in emotions, mental health, mindfulness and meditation. He believes the more we understand ourselves and each other, the better societies we can create. If you have any questions or comments, email lifestyle@thestar.com.my. The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
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