‘People with mental health problems still get stigmatised at workplace’

KUCHING: Mental health conditions are still strongly stigmatised and often overlooked, especially in the workplace.

According to Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, this affects the people’s ability to work more than any other group of disorders.

“It (mental health condition) affects the working productivity of people by impairing their ability to function at full capacity. The more challenging working life in Malaysia may lead to increased vulnerability of our adult population in developing mental health problems,” he said at the World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2017 at International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS) yesterday.

WMHD was established by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) on Oct 10, 1992. This year marks its 25th anniversary. Each year, WFMH focuses on different themes, with this year’s being ‘Mental Health in the Workplace’ to address the values of promoting well-being in work settings of all kinds.

“Mental health of employees seems to be neglected at the workplace, in spite of depression becoming a major cause of illness and disability worldwide, as pointed out by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Depression may impact productivity as well as the wellbeing of employees,” said Dr Sim.

Still, the subject is regarded as a taboo.

“One of the reasons many people conceal their mental health issues is because they fear discrimination when looking for or keeping a job. This is unfortunately a valid reason.”

Hence, Dr Sim said it is crucial to tackle employer’s stigma and lack of awareness of mental health issues.

“Addressing the mental health of employees by doing mental health promotion, prevention and treatment programmes at the workplace can be meaningful investments.”

The opening ceremony was followed by the launch of a book called ‘My Story’ by Alan Pui, who chronicles his recovery from bipolar disorder. At the same event, there was a screening of a video called ‘Project S’ by Stories in Motion and ‘Butterflies of Life’, which highlighted mental health in the form of dance and short interviews.

The morning programme also included mental health screening, an exhibition and quiz.

Present were Mental Health Association of Sarawak advisor Dato Wee Hong Seng, the association’s Kuching branch chairman Dr Lau Kim Kah and his deputy Dr Ismail Drahman, Kuching Mental Health Month 2017 organising chairperson Dr Gan Chee Kuan and co-organising chairperson Dr Rosliwati Md Yusof, as well as SUPP Public Complaints Bureau chief Councillor Wilfred Yap.