Dzulkefly: MOH strengthening mental health support nationwide, workplace policy under consultation

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — The Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) is intensifying its efforts to bolster mental health support throughout the country. This includes refining a workplace mental health policy, currently under discussion with various stakeholders. Speaking during a press conference following the National-Level World Mental Health Month 2026 celebration, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed that MOH is collaborating closely with the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) and other agencies to ensure the policy is comprehensive and well-coordinated.

Dzulkefly emphasized that this consultation process is crucial to prevent the policy from being implemented without proper inter-agency coordination.

In terms of service expansion, MOH has increased access to mental health services by integrating them into 1,116 government health clinics across the nation, alongside existing hospital facilities and community-based services such as Community Mental Health Centres (MENTARI). Currently, there are around 700 registered psychiatrists in Malaysia, with 400 of them serving in the aforementioned facilities.

The minister also highlighted that MOH is enhancing specialized psychiatric training and optimizing the roles of other healthcare professionals through a "task-shifting" approach. This strategy involves over 500 family medicine specialists who offer mental health services at the primary healthcare level.

MOH currently employs approximately 300 counselors, and there are a total of 10,000 registered counselors nationwide through the Board of Counselors of Malaysia. Additionally, 68 MOH hospitals and four psychiatric institutions provide psychiatric services, making a total of 72 facilities available. Dzulkefly stressed that this diversified healthcare personnel involvement allows the public to access assistance and early intervention without solely depending on psychiatrists.

According to him, over 55,000 civil servants have been identified as high-risk for mental health issues, such as suicidal tendencies, based on screenings conducted through the Civil Servants’ Psychological Health Digital Profile System (MyPsyD). The minister stressed, "The demand for professionalism should not come at the expense of the sanity and well-being of our own workforce."