Experts: Don’t stigmatise workers struggling with mental health issues

There’s a need to tackle the stigma and prejudice against someone at work who is struggling with mental health issues. –123rf.com

WORKERS in Malaysia should be entitled to mental health leave to take care of their state of mind, say experts.

But also, there’s a need to tackle the stigma and prejudice against someone at work who is struggling with mental health issues.

Malaysian Mental Health Association president Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj says there should be guidelines to avoid discrimination at the workplace if someone is declared to have a mental health condition.

“This is the most crucial element in a mental health policy.

“Unless there is a mechanism to protect employees who develop a mental condition while being employed, workers will continue to refrain from opening up,” he says.

Workers must also be judged on their capabilities and work performance rather than sidelined due to mental health struggles or treatment, says Dr Mohanraj, who is a consultant psychiatrist.

“Stigma is a huge challenge in mental health but it can be prevented from translating into discrimination if there are robust policies on how to support an employee with mental health problems,” he says.

When it comes to mental health leave, Dr Mohanraj says workers should be given such an option every now and then to recharge before continuing their jobs.

“There needs to be a trusting relationship between an employer and worker for this to succeed.

“Such leave should not need a doctor’s certificate as it could be stressful and stigmatising to the employee.

“However, if an endorsement by a mental health professional is required, then such mental health leave should carry the same weight as a medical leave for physical illnesses,” he says.

While depression and anxiety are the two main mental health issues suffered among employees, Dr Mohanraj says burn out is also a condition to take note of.

“Often, it is mistaken for depression but burn out is specific to the workplace, as opposed to depression that can affect all aspects of life.

“Burn out is seen not only because of high work stress but also because an employee does not feel valued by the organisation and, as a result, does not have a sense of purpose and dedication to the organisation,” he explains.

Like depression, burn out can also be characterised by low mood, irritability, lethargy, hopelessness and even suicidal thoughts, Dr Mohanraj says.

“Cynicism is a prominent feature in burn out. It is often seen in high functioning or well-performing workers who suddenly decompensate,” he says, referring to episodes when a person’s existing mental health deteriorates.

Giving a “resounding yes” to mental health leave, clinical psychologist Dr Joel Low says mental struggles can be as, if not more, debilitating than physical ones.

However, he too, highlights that prejudice against workers with mental health issues is still a challenge.

“Having time off work through mental health leave can be helpful as a ‘pick me up’ for these employees. That being said, I don’t know if we’re ready for such leave yet because of the amount of stigma still attached to mental health issues.

“Because of that, it would mean a lot of employees would refrain from applying for such leave, to ensure that they are not unfairly targeted or singled out,” he says.

Dr Low is a director at The Mind: Psychological Services & Training, a company that has been involved with several corporations that have allowed something similar to mental health leave.

“It would require a letter of support from the employee’s therapist and it would be deducted from their sick leave allocations.

“This was a massive effort where mental health was advocated for at all levels at these companies,” he shares.

Dr Low says Malaysian society must become better educated about mental health, and what people can do about it.

“With that in mind, I think the most practical and effective thing that can be done would be to share information as freely as possible with advertisements and even songs.

“At the very least, it normalises things somewhat and allows us to start having conversations about this subject.

“Once we have that going, I think rolling out mental health programmes and policies in the workplace would be that much more feasible when everyone’s onboard and moving in the right direction,” he says.