Right support: Demand for psychologists is growing, with more Malaysians needing mental health support than ever before. – 123rf.com
Recent headlines are raising important questions about the mental health of Malaysians. Depression affects an estimated 4.6% of adults in the country while the rate of mental health problems among children aged five to 16 years is at a worrying 16.5%.
It is a heavy burden for the nation to bear, as poor mental health shows itself in bullying and disciplinary issues in school, in work stress and burnout, and in strained family and marital relationships.
Clearly, more Malaysians are in need of mental health support than ever before. While the tools to address these issues are available, a shortage of psychologists and lack of access to mental health and psychological services, alongside the ongoing stigma surrounding mental health conditions, present a significant challenge.
From scarcity to sufficiency
World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an optimal ratio of one clinical psychologist for every 5,000 people. In Malaysia, we are far from achieving this – in 2019, the ratio was one clinical psychologist to 980,000 people. Quite simply, our current shortage of psychologists is a critical and urgent issue to address.
While Malaysia is not alone in this challenge, which is faced by many other developing nations, we must be mindful of what the future holds if the demand for mental health services continues its upward trend, as we expect it will.
The need to train a new generation of psychologists cannot be denied. What we need is a stronger, synergistic push to overcome the barriers faced by young talents. At present, the majority of fresh graduates come from private institutions, with public university opportunities limited. The situation is compounded by a lack of appropriate clinical settings for training.
This bottleneck can be addressed, in part, by creating more spaces in public universities, scholarships and opportunities for training across public, private, professional and non-governmental organisations.
In spite of these challenges, several efforts have contributed to significant growth over the last decade, with key developments that include the establishment of clinical psychology as an allied health profession and a growing number of universities now offering Master of Clinical Psychology programmes.
This growth would be further served with the development of clear, sustainable mental health policies, sufficient funding allocated to support the mental health needs of the rakyat, and extensive education at every level of society to address the stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental health.
Wide world of psychology
In tandem with this growth is an increasing acceptance among Malaysians, who acknowledge psychology as a worthy career option. A degree in psychology opens pathways to varied sub-specialities such as counselling, clinical psychology, industrial relations, forensic psychology, education, behavioural therapy, developmental psychology, and geriatrics.
The skills gained over the course of obtaining a basic qualification include research, data analysis, communication and community engagement. These are highly transferable and in demand for careers in talent management, training and development, market research, social work, policy research and policy making, as well as entrepreneurship.
As the field of psychology continues to grow, graduates will likewise need to evolve. Technology has already shown us the value of remote consultations and digital tools in supporting the mental health needs of those who may otherwise have difficulties in accessing these services. Now, with artificial intelligence, the applications are almost limitless.
Incorporating these developments into existing curricula and providing continuous professional development to support graduates on their journey are essential to paving the way for the future of mental health in Malaysia and beyond.
IMU University senior lecturer and clinical psychologist Dr Serena In is the vice president of Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology (MSCP). The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
