Lam Thye: Only 100 psychologists in country
New Straits Times Online, 19 February 2014
MALACCA: Malaysia is lacking in clinical psychologists to deal with the mental health problems of the people and maintain their psychological wellbeing.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said there were only 100 registered clinical psychologists nationwide, with fewer than 10 practitioners serving in the government.
"The rate of clinical psychologists graduating from local universities is worrying. We only have 20 to 30 graduates yearly."
He said according to the National Health Study in 2011, 12 per cent of the adult population in the country suffered some form of mental illness, such as anxiety, stress, psychosis, schizophrenia and split personality, among others.
"It is timely for the Health Ministry to give more prominence to mental health issues through budget allocations, expediting mental healthcare guidelines and ensuring their implementation in the workplace.
"I suggest the ministry allocate a substantial amount in its budget for mental healthcare. It is needed to generate more resources to deal with mental healthcare issues."
He said this after launching the Seminar on Mental Health at the Workplace here yesterday.
Lee said resources, include upgrading a unit under the ministry into a department on mental health, were needed to develop positive mental health in the community.
"With a proper department to handle mental health issues, we can have more officers and expertise to manage programmes and research.
"I propose that mental healthcare community centres be set up in each state, so that people with non-severe mental illnesses need not go to hospitals for psychiatric treatment. They can go to the centres for advice and counselling."
On the two-day seminar, Lee said it was aimed at preventing mental health problems among employees through comprehensive mental health and wellbeing strategies to yield higher productivity.
"The impact of mental health problems on executives and workers, as well as their families, is immense.
"It is important to ensure the happiness and wellbeing of workers and their families.
"I suggest the government expedite the introduction of guidelines for mental healthcare promotion to enable the implementation of basic measures that can be adopted by employers."
Lee said although the implementation of guidelines was not required by law, employers should be concerned about their workers.
"By having the commitment to introduce such guidelines, I hope we will be able to create a better working environment in the workplace."
