PETALING JAYA: The high number of civil servants at risk of poor mental well-being is a wake-up call for urgent action.
Urging the government to strengthen the National Psychological Infrastructure, Malaysian Psychological Association president Assoc Prof Dr Shazli Ezzat Ghazali said professional expertise, competency and ethical standards, research, data, screening, intervention and referral systems, must be integrated into a coordinated ecosystem.
On Sept 21, Public Service Department (JPA) director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said some 55,169 civil servants had been identified as being at high risk of poor mental well-being.
Referencing the Digital Psychological Health Profiling System, he said the figures also comprised civil servants who were at risk of taking their own lives.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan had also said JPA is currently developing mental health guidelines and a Happiness Index for the civil service as part of efforts to improve the well-being of its workforce.
Calling for a systemic change, Shazli Ezzat said screening results are not a diagnosis and that individuals identified as high-risk must undergo professional psychological assessment and risk evaluation to determine the level of risk and appropriate intervention.
“What matters most is what comes next – professional assessment, early intervention, clear referral pathways, continuous monitoring and case management.
“Those at risk of self-harm require immediate response mechanisms, safety planning, referrals and active follow-up,” he said in a recent statement.
Shazli Ezzat said workplace policies that promote psychological well-being are also important, as mental health challenges could affect productivity, engagement, decision-making and overall quality of life.
He added that the capacity of the psychological workforce needs to be reviewed, taking into account the ratio of professionals to the number of civil servants and high-risk cases, specialised competencies, caseloads, and the distribution of personnel among ministries and agencies.
Mental health counsellor Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan said all employers should have an overall mental health plan to ensure the long-term well-being of their workforce.
She added that individuals must also be able to access support confidentially.
“Private information revealed during the sessions must never be shared with the workplace,” she said, stressing the importance of giving employees a choice in whom they seek therapy from.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry was prepared to leverage its expertise in mental health management to support JPA’s efforts.
“Although we (the ministry) already have mental health guidelines, if JPA wants to develop its own guidelines, we are ready to help,” he told reporters after launching the National-level 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day in Ipoh yesterday.
