The catch-22 of talking about mental health at work in Malaysia
We are told to talk about it, but workers claim that being open about mental health at work can be costly
NABIL (not his real name) had not expected to be called up by his boss, much less lectured, when he handed in an MC for time taken to attend a scheduled mental health checkup. But that is exactly what happened.
Nabil alleges that the manager scolded him, saying that taking a day off was unfair to the company and would affect work. Worse, the latter even questioned the authenticity of the MC, even though it was issued by a government hospital, and the checkup was only once in a few months.
"He even said I'm young and shouldn't be sick, and that I had cheated the company by not disclosing having a mental health issue when applying for the job. Those red flags made me realise that I should start searching for another job," claims Nabil, who has since left the company.
According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), one in three Malaysians grapple with a mental condition of some sort. Another survey, meanwhile, found that 29 per cent of workers experience poor mental health.
The problem is compounded by the stigma attached to mental health, which prevents people from being open about their challenges, both at work and while job hunting.
Take the case of Equine (not his real name). According to the engineer, the multinational company he was hoping to join had requested that he furnish his entire medical history.
Unfortunately, his chances of landing a position evaporated as soon as he had complied.
"From the invasive questions during the interview to the change in facial expressions of recruiting managers and accompanying human resource staff... I'm 100 per cent confident the moment I disclosed my mental health diagnosis I lost the job," he says, adding that the recruiters also ghosted him following the interview.
It is no surprise, thus, that the experience convinced the 24-year-old to hide his diagnosis during future interviews, even though doing so may be wrong.
To disclose or not to disclose, that is the question.
For the record, the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MHA) previously warned workers that failure to disclose relevant information to one's employers could be regarded as fraud and result in legal action.
Yet, that is not the only reason for employees to be transparent says Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman. There is also the fact that employers can't help their staff if they aren't properly appraised of medical conditions.
"Employers have a responsibility towards their employees; it's a direct relationship. Yes, there will be some additional costs (to employers) in taking care of employees' mental health. (But) I don't see this as an issue. Your employees have contributed to you when they are healthy. Now, they need help or support," he says.
Medical care aside, Syed Hussain notes that following the COVID-19 pandemic, workers also seek non-cash benefits like work-life balance.
But the bigger problem as Dr Victor Goh Weng Yew, Help University's Department of Psychology head, sees it, is that employers in Malaysia continue to overlook the importance of mental wellness.
"Companies just see it as 'as long as the person can still come to work, we're fine'. They don't realise that if the person is at work, but mentally unwell, it drops their productivity, and overall, the company loses money.
"We lose an estimated 1 per cent of GDP (due to mentally drained employees) and that's a very conservative estimate," he says.
But while Goh advises employers to care about worker mental health as it improves performance, boosts morale and helps the bottom line, he understands why some employees choose to keep their conditions secret.
He, nevertheless, advises against hiding one's mental health condition but adds that individuals could try wording their responses more neutrally so as to avoid bias and stigma.
"Instead of saying 'I have depression', for example, say 'I'm currently in therapy for mental wellness'," Goh suggests.
Weighing in, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani says that employers penalising employees or discriminating against job applicants due to mental health issues is not only unethical, but also counterproductive as it cements the stigma surrounding mental health, runs afoul of labour and anti-discrimination laws, and ultimately, robs workplaces of valuable contributions from capable individuals.
Mohd Effendy adds that employees who feel unfairly treated may have legal avenues to pursue under the Employment Act 1955 or the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008. He also urges employees to keep detailed records of any discriminatory treatment.
Hope for better awareness
But while mental health stigma remains, and there is much to be done in terms of how employers respond to employee mental health, a few Malaysian companies have been proactive in helping workers through tough times.
Manpreet Kaur Rai, for one, says it was a company programme that helped her get treated for her mental health challenges and made her realise the importance of therapy. It also served as the catalyst for her to transition from a 10-year-plus career in advertising to counselling.
"I decided to go for therapy through my company's EAP (Employee Assistance Program) programme as I was struggling with work-related anxiety. The experience not only heightened my understanding of the efficacy of therapy but also allowed me to witness first-hand its transformative effects," she says.
Currently a trainee counsellor, Manpreet says she has observed a significant demand for counselling services, even though some people are still reluctant to seek help, deterred by its cost or due to misconceptions pertaining to therapy.
Things are changing, however, she says, and the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed a shift in how people perceive and prioritise mental health.
Plus, younger people appear to better understand the significance of mental health support and see companies offering benefits like EAP as highly appealing.
"(The pandemic) served as a stark reminder of life's fragility, prompting individuals to reassess their priorities and seek support when needed," Manpreet says.
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