10,000 civil servants learn first-aid for workplace stress

 

The course is among initiatives to prevent civil servants from falling into further mental disorders, says the national institute on occupational safety and health. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Some 10,000 civil servants are attending a two-day course for training to provide first aid in mental health as part of efforts to tackle workplace stress, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health said today.

The institute said the course is one of several initiatives aimed at supporting immediate intervention to prevent civil servants from falling into further mental disorders, Bernama reported.

Stress at work can be caused by various factors such as the way work is managed, social factors, work environment, equipment and exposure to hazards. Bullying in the workplace can also be the main cause of psychological problems,

 the institute said in a statement.

It said employers and employees learn to detect early signs of stress, form support mechanisms and deal with the issue before it becomes more serious.

The efforts are in line with the announcement by the director-general of public services, Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, that the government will deal with psychological health issues among civil servants.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said more than 40,000 civil servants are identified as being at high risk of experiencing psychological health problems, based on a survey carried out from March to September this year.

A national survey in 2019 showed that about 2.3% of Malaysians are believed to suffer from depression, while another study in 2018 found that 29% of workers have an unsatisfactory level of mental health.

The institute urged employers and employees to take part in the Occupational Psychology First Aid course to increase awareness and skills in dealing with work stress. - FMT