Kesihatan mental: Lebih 55,000 penjawat awam berisiko tinggi

More than 55,000 civil servants face high risk of mental health issues, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Public Service's Digital Psychology Profiling System (MyPsyD). Dr Mohd Bakhari Ismail, Deputy Chief of the Public Service Development, stated that this figure highlights the importance of enhancing psychological well-being among civil servants on a broader scale.

A recent survey conducted by Malaysia's Psychological Well-being Index (KPI Malaysia) also revealed that psychological well-being is a crucial factor affecting organizational well-being and the quality of service delivery to the people. Strengthening psychological well-being holistically should be seen as a strategic investment to ensure that the country's civil servants, who are the backbone of governance, remain resilient, responsive, and capable, said Berita Harian during the 2026 Public Service Psychology Conference (PSYCON 2026) themed "Psychology Empowering People, Shaping the Future" at the Public Service Academy, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

Last July, Public Service Chief Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz reported that the government is taking early intervention measures to address mental health issues among civil servants, following MyPsych's findings that over 40,000 civil servants exhibited negative behavior patterns, including self-harm thoughts. As a result, the agency was advised to collaborate with psychologists in providing early intervention for individuals identified as high-risk.

PSYCON 2026 will bring together over 500 participants representing ministries, departments, and government agencies to enhance the psychological professionals' capabilities in handling the increasingly complex work environment and psychological challenges. Meanwhile, Dr Bakhari said the Public Service (PS) is developing a Mental Health Care Guideline for Civil Servants as a strategic goal and comprehensive management strategy for psychological well-being.

The Ministry is also working on conducting a strategic review and capacity-building of the Public Service Psychology Scheme to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the service in addressing changes. In addition, the development of psychological professionals' competencies and professionalism is emphasized through the provision of high-impact, certificate-level courses annually.

Dr Bakhari stressed that the goal is for psychological professionals to attain at least a bachelor's or higher-level qualification.