World Mental Health Day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. Photo: Freepik
Marketing executive Dean, 27, who wishes to remain anonymous, is under tremendous pressure at work.
Every month, he struggles to meet his monthly sales target. As a father of a three-year-old and a newborn, the sole breadwinner tries very hard to earn enough to support his young family.
“The stress is immense, so to relax, I started vaping, often hung out till late night with colleagues, and didn’t go home until the wee hours of the morning,” he says.
He admits that he suffers from depression and feels like a failure, and has even contemplated suicide because he feels overwhelmed. He says there isn’t anyone he can talk to about this because everyone is counting on him.
Account manager Maria, who also wants anonymity, says she often seeks refuge in her workplace restroom; doing breathing exercises, trying to calm herself down and sometimes, crying.
“Whenever a client complains, I get blamed, even when it’s not my fault,” she says between sobs.
“In fact, when a client brought forward a deadline and demanded a huge discount from the agency, my boss was furious and insisted I deal with it, even though it was my colleague’s project. He was reassigned to another project while I had to clean up his mess.”
The 35-year-old reveals that she has heart palpitations whenever she feels anxious. Her blood pressure has also skyrocketed and she suffers from insomnia as a result of workplace stress.
Dean and Maria are not alone in their workplace plight. According to Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association (Miasa) Malaysia founder and president Anita Abu Bakar, depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental heath issues prevalent in workplaces today.
Anita founded Miasa after her own mental health diagnosis and recovery.Anxiety is a common emotion but anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that needs to be treated through a holistic approach, says Anita.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey reveals that in 2019, 2.3% Malaysians – about 500,000 – suffered from depression, but in 2023, the percentage has doubled to 4.6% – one million people – which is alarming, she adds.
World Mental Health Day 2024 is celebrated on Oct 10, and this year’s theme is prioritising mental health in the workplace.
But Anita says mental health issues should be treated from when individuals are young, otherwise they may develop into mental health conditions in adulthood, aggravated by stress and pressure in the workplace.
“We must normalise discussing these issues so people are more willing to reach out for help. By removing the shame and stigma associated with mental illness, people will be less afraid to talk about it or to admit they have problems. We need to take a look at people’s lifestyle, the trauma in their life and whether these are being addressed.”
According to Anita, there are many factors that can exacerbate mental health issues at work.
“It could be too much pressure in one’s life, not just at work. People often bring what happens at home and outside of the office into their workplace.
“Because people are in their workplace most of the time, they need an environment that is supportive and conducive,” she says.
Anita offers some strategies, like compressed work weeks, where a worker’s full-time contracted hours are scheduled into fewer than five working days weekly, such as 10 hours for four days, flexible working arrangements, working from home or a hybrid system.
“All this can offer flexibility if employees have other commitments such as family care or education. Many tech and creative content companies are already adopting these strategies.
”Having mental health interventions within workplaces – such as employee assistance programmes where organisations have visiting psychologists and counsellors to provide workers with counselling sessions – is also important, says Anita.
Reasonable accommodation or adjustments within the workplace can also be implemented, she says.
One that can be immediately implemented is having calm rooms, and this is already practised overseas. It’s a safe space within the office where workers can go to when they feel triggered, overwhelmed or are having a panic attack. It can contain massage chairs or aromatherapy candles to calm people down, she adds.
“Currently, when people struggle with such issues, they might end up in toilet cubicles or for Muslims, in the surau, because these are the only private places at work. Some go outside of the building where they smoke or vape, which are unhealthy coping mechanisms and counter productive."
Many who suffer from mental health issues are unwilling to reach out for help due the stigma and discrimination associated with it.More multinational corporations are implementing prolonged illness leave for mental health, says Anita.
“For example, if an employee breaks a leg, it could take from two to six months to recover. But mental health conditions are harder to measure, because it depends on your support system, knowledge of the condition and the treatment you’re undergoing. So, it’s good if companies can provide prolonged illness leave for employees, not just for physical, but also mental illness,” she explains.
According to Anita, the human resource department plays an important role in creating a supportive environment within the workplace.
“If we train the HR within an organisation, there will be more help for the people.”
“If people within an organisation are keen, they can also be trained to become peer support specialists, so that help is always at hand and people don’t have to wait for an external counsellor.”
Therapy is a way to help those with mental health challenges. Photo: Freepik
Anita says creating awareness through programmes in the workplace for people to share their experiences and listen to others’ is helpful too.
She also recommends having mental health campaigns to normalise talking about the issues and conditions at workplaces.
“People are generally afraid to admit they have mental health issues, or to seek help because they’re trained to ‘have it all together’, even when they’re crumbling inside,” she says.
“There’s stigma associated with mental illness, and when people admit they’re struggling with mental health, the perception is negative and more so in the workplace. Shame and fear hinder people from sharing.
“But once people have knowledge about mental health, they become more supportive and this removes that shame and fear.”
Maria has been in therapy and counselling with a professional ever since she realised she needed help.
“I feel better now, knowing there is someone there who understands what’s happening, and is able to advise and help me deal with the issue,” she says.
Maria adds that she has also approached her boss to talk about the situation, and things are looking better.
"Although it’s difficult to ask for help when you’re struggling with mental health issues, you have to be brave and reach out,” she advises.
It has been several months since Dean has found a new job at a bank.
"The conditions are better in that I earn for the work that I do, and the salary is not based solely on sales commissions. I reached out to my wife and family members, and they’ve been supportive and understanding,” he says, adding that he has stopped vaping and going out till late.
“Such unhealthy habits are a quick-fix, but they don’t really solve the problem. They not only damage your health but also deplete your finances,” he adds.
Anita shares about her own struggle with mental illness and how that led to her to start Miasa Malaysia.
“I went through mental health challenges as a child, but was only diagnosed 10 years ago. It started with panic attacks, anxiety and feelings of emptiness inside.”
“At that time, I was a manager in the corporate world, a high achiever and perfectionist. I loved my work, but I was burnt out. My brain and body collapsed, and I lost functionality in life.”
“I was at a very difficult place, and from that realisation of how isolating and difficult it is having a mental health condition, Miasa Malaysia was conceptualised and launched in 2017,” she shares.
It was her husband who encouraged Anita to start Miasa Malaysia, two years after her diagnosis, while she was going through the recovery process.
“He said, ‘why don’t you share what you’re going through with others? I’m sure it’ll help someone, there are other people going through this too’.”
“My response was, aren’t you afraid people will say your wife’s crazy?”
“He said, ‘well, I know you’re not, and that’s enough’.”
So Anita decided to be honest and shared her experiences. Turns out, it encouraged others to do the same thing.
“When leaders decide to be vulnerable and talk about their struggles, it sets an example and encourages others to open up too; it’s a domino effect,” she adds.
“This is beneficial because when people feel supported, it translates into an increase in help-seeking behaviour and mental health literacy. It’s a win-win for the company because when employees’ mental health is well taken care of, they become more productive and efficient,” she concludes.
If you are struggling with suicide or know someone who is contemplating suicide, you can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935/ 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999/ 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim’s family, social and community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929/email sam@befrienders.org.my/visit befrienders.org.my/centre-in- malaysia).
