Empower GPs to complement mental health training, says expert

 

A 2018 study estimated that absenteeism, presenteeism and staff turnover due to mental health conditions cost the country RM14.46 billion. (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA: A mental health expert has called on the government to complement its recently announced occupational mental health first aid programme by strengthening services at primary care level.

Acknowledging the human resources ministry’s sponsorship of the first 10,000 programme participants, the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) said the initiative must be supported by general practitioners (GPs) equipped with appropriate knowledge to deal with mental health conditions.

MMHA president Dr Andrew Mohanraj said GPs must be able to diagnose underlying mental health conditions affecting their patients so that they can be referred to a psychiatrist.

“A worker may present to the doctor complaints of persistent backache, headache or poor sleep quality, but the doctor (without appropriate mental health knowledge) may not be able to elicit the underlying mental health condition that manifests itself in what is known as psychosomatic complaints,” Mohanraj told FMT.

He said the underlying problem, if unidentified and left untreated, can lead to absenteeism or low productivity.

Psychosomatic illnesses occur when individuals experience physical symptoms, which do not have a clear medical explanation, but influence a person’s emotional state.

Mohanraj also advised GPs to subscribe to short courses in mental health so that they are better able to detect, treat, refer and follow up on patients with mental health issues.

He said employers also stand to benefit from Niosh’s initiative as it would provide them with a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding the mental health of their employees.

Last month, human resources minister Steven Sim announced a RM12 million allocation aimed at training workers to detect and provide early intervention for colleagues facing mental health issues.

He said the move was part of the ministry’s efforts to better protect the safety and health of workers.

Economist Geoffrey Williams of the Malaysia University of Science and Technology also welcomed the initiative, saying good mental health among employees plays an important role in developing the economy.

He said mental health and a supportive work environment would enable better recruitment, generate higher productivity, minimise staff turnover, and improve a company’s overall performance.

“Investment in better workplace mental health can reduce absenteeism and encourage a more proactive approach to business growth which adds to overall economic growth and development,” said Williams.

A 2018 study conducted by mental health expert Sook Ning Chua conservatively estimated the total cost of absenteeism, presenteeism and staff turnover nationally due to mental health conditions was RM14.46 billion.

Presenteeism refers to lost productivity that occurs when employees are not fully functioning in the workplace. - FMT