Mental health issues cost economy RM14.46bil in 2018, estimates NGO

From left Qualitas Occupational Health Services Manager Dr Azwan Abdullah Al-Hadi, Sunway Group chief Human Resources officer Foo Shiang Wyne, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh, Relate founder Dr Chua Sook Ning, Mental health advocate Dr Nurashikin Ibrahim, and Subang Jaya assemblymen Michelle Ng Mei Sze.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mental health issues plaguing the nation's workforce may have cost the economy as much as RM14.46bil, or more than 1% of Malaysia’s total gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, according to a study by Relate Mental Health Malaysia (Relate).

The study titled “Workplace mental health - The business cost”, had estimated the productivity and business costs of mental health problems based on three factors - staff turnover, absence and presence (working while unwell).