Safeguarding the Mental Health of those who Safeguard our Health
Written by Durrah Sharifah Ahmad Azlan, she is a Research Executive at the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs [IDEAS].
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme being Mental Health at Work cannot be more apt considering the tragedy on the 29th August when Malaysia lost a hardworking and talented pathology specialist Dr Tay Tien Yaa. Her bright future was cut short presumably due to workplace bullying and overload of duties beyond her work scope.
As mental health problems and suicide increased among healthcare workers over the years, the recent announcement by Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad on the 2nd of October to form an independent taskforce investigating Dr Tay’s death is a step in the right direction to answer a critical question – who heals the healer?
Barriers to Mental Healthcare
There is a lack of evidence of implementation or surveillance of formal mental health measures previously initiated within the healthcare system. Guidelines such as the 2017 Guideline for Managing Doctors with Psychological Problems by the Ministry of Health and the 2019 Managing Impaired Registered Medical Practitioners guideline by the Malaysian Medical Council indicated acknowledgement of the problem, yet whether there is tangible progress of the healthcare worker’ being sufficiently supported in terms of their mental health remains doubtful.
Greater top-down intervention is needed to de-stigmatize the act of seeking help for mental health. Only last year, a poll conducted by CodeBlue reported more than a quarter of the government health care worker respondents feared being suspended from work if they sought help for their mental health. More than three quarters of the respondents perceived doing so will negatively impact their career progression. With almost 90% of the respondents attributing work-related factors as the main cause for their mental health issues, it is clear that the culture of suffering in silence needs to change to one of openness and support.
Exploring support beyond the healthcare systems may not provide a long-term solution and brings forth other logistical issues. For example, the Mental Health First Aid programmes as endorsed by the Ministry of Human Resources earlier this year is not preventative in nature and is only a short-term solution to systemic concerns. Meanwhile, appointments in private mental health centres may prove challenging for those working on-call and cannot afford to take time off. Hence, sustainable preventative rather than curative policies need to be put in place.
Learning from Global Examples
Systemic change is required to address these challenges. Given the staff shortages contributing to the high workload and stress, the healthcare workforce in Malaysia needs to be expanded to ensure a more manageable allocation of workload and quality of care. Globally, governments are investing in expanding the health workforce as a solution to protect the mental health of its existing staff, as reported in the 2022 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians. For instance, Australia had pledged $750 million toward improving their primary care to tackle burnout that Malaysia could emulate.
It is also urged that healthcare workers are compensated fairly, especially by revising the hourly on-call allowance of doctors in the public health care system considering its stagnancy in the past decade. The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies reported countries mostly in Eastern and Southern Europe providing additional financial support and compensation to health care workers in 2020 as measures directed to the protection of their mental health and wellbeing. Similarly in Malaysia, fair remuneration is needed to sustain morale and motivation of healthcare workers working tirelessly.
Targeted mental health interventions may also be conducted across healthcare systems. Innovative digital interventions can be integrated into existing systems, as exemplified by the Australian Federal Government that developed TEN – The Essential Network for Health Professionals, a digital-first mental health service where healthcare workers can access a range of self-guided resources. Meanwhile awareness campaigns can be made to reduce stigma as done in the United States, where the necessity of sustainably improving their health workers’ mental health is made apparent with the allocation of $20 million through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for this purpose.
Addressing Root causes: A Call for Systemic Change
Thus for this year’s World Mental Health Day, let’s go beyond listing out crisis helplines and therapy options, putting the onus for action again on those who are already struggling as if they are the only ones who need “fixing”. Just as a flower needs fertile soil and the right conditions to bloom, our healthcare professionals require stable support systems and effective organisational management.
Policymakers, healthcare leaders, and the public must work together to create an environment where mental health is prioritised. By investing in our healthcare workers, we invest in the health of our entire community. Let’s ensure that those who dedicate their lives to safeguard our well-being receive the safeguards they deserve for their mental health and wellbeing.
This article first appeared on www.businesstoday.com.my at October 10, 2024.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of IDEAS Malaysia nor BusinessToday’s. All opinions are the author’s own.
