Workers need to control their stress levels, says Maznah

MUADZAM SHAH: Healthcare staff and teachers are most prone to suffer stress due to their heavy workload.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Senator Datuk Maznah Mazlan said in the private sector, those working in the industrial and services sectors were the ones high on stress out list.

“Under the International Labour Organisation, work-related stress has been recognised as a major illness affecting the people in this modern era.

“In fact, many workers are not aware they are suffering from stress until symptoms develop.

“Among the common symptoms are headaches, insomnia, muscle cramps, chest pains, stomach upsets, mood changes and fatigue,” she said after opening a seminar on stress management, here.

Maznah, who is the Muadzam Shah assemblyman, said stress due to work must be properly addressed as it could lead to other chronic ailments such as hypertension, heart problems, obesity and diabetes.

She said those working under duress might also resort to overeating, indulgence in alcohol, tobacco or drugs, be emotional, withdraw socially and contemplate suicide.

“As such, head of departments must be alert and use their discretion to identify and send these individuals for relaxation courses.

“We must learn to nurture happy feelings while at work, mix more with smiling colleagues or use de-stress gadgets such as a stress ball,” she said.

Maznah added that some private firms had put in place initiatives to create a conducive working environment, including offering a “smiling allowance” and organising field trips and family outings to reduce stress.

She said the Government could not compel civil servants and private sector staff to attend stress management courses, drawn up by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

“These courses are optional but heads of departments should know that productivity and overall achievement of their staff would be affected if stress is not addressed,” she said, adding that a guidebook for media practitioners was also available as the profession was also affected by stress due to the rush to meet deadlines.

On the Lahad Datu armed intruders, Maznah urged all parties regardless of their political affiliations not to politicise the issue as it involved national security.

“Let’s us pray together and give our full support to the security forces to resolve the matter conclusively.

“I am confident they would do their best to protect the country’s sovereignty, even by sacrificing their lives to end the impasse,” she sai

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