According to official PDRM data, Malaysia had 1,142 suicide cases in 2021, an 81% increase from 631 cases in 2020. The causes are chronic stress, loss of income, domestic violence, a financial crisis, and unanticipated deaths due to the pandemic.
These figures are very crucial because mental health is often being ignored and treated like a taboo. Eventually, it will have a major impact on their job.
Hence, whenever mental health issues are being overlooked, the negative impact to employers are:
Now, as an employer, you must provide a safe space for your employees to communicate openly about their mental wellbeing. Here are some of the things employers can do to tackle this issue:
Conduct a corporate wellness program at the workplace because it is proven by the CDC that the workplace is the most ideal setting to create a culture of health. Corporate wellness programs that are not only focusing on mental health but also physical health can help employees to boost their mood and resilience, improve their communication, manage their stress, cope with changing roles and responsibility, and reach their highest potential.
Conduct an employee wellness survey to assess their mental wellbeing. In the same corporate wellness programs, you may start a survey in order to determine whether additional assessment or resources would be required to the employees
Provide a clinical screening for mental health. Corporate wellness programs that can provide clinical examinations by experts in mental health, would be a good advantage for the employees to seek their treatment and referrals, if necessary.
The first step in promoting good mental health in the workplace is raising awareness of the full spectrum of employee mental health experiences. Companies that support and advocate for mental health can be the best practices for corporate wellness programs and eye opener for other employers.
If you would like to promote mental wellness in your company and don’t know where to start, do contact us for more details as we provide customized mental wellness programs according to your needs!
