Nearly 700 teachers flagged as needing psychological support

The Malaysian education ministry has identified 691 teachers nationwide who require immediate psychological support, according to the results of a screening program conducted on 82,126 teachers. This represents 0.84% of the teachers who participated in the assessment. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek stated that the figure represents a small percentage of teachers who underwent the screening, and most of them have a good psychological well-being.

The ministry has implemented a comprehensive intervention approach that includes development, prevention, and recovery strategies through various psychological and counselling services. These services are designed to assist teachers facing challenges, such as individual and group counselling, psychological assessments, guidance and consultation, stress management programs, and emotional support. The ministry also provides these services to help teachers maintain their well-being and career progression.

Responding to a question from Muslimin Yahaya from the PN-Sungai Besar constituency, Fadhlina explained that the intervention process begins with screening and identifying individual needs, followed by appropriate psychological intervention and counselling. In addition to support services, the ministry has allocated RM200 million to improve teachers' rooms, with an additional RM100 million in new funding.

NUTP Secretary-General Fouzi Singon commented on the mental health challenges faced by teachers, citing issues such as toxic school leadership, increasing digital demands, and harassment from parents. He noted that many teachers have experienced mental health conditions like depression and schizophrenia, leading to feelings of isolation and lack of support. Singon expressed concern that teachers struggling with mental health often hesitate to seek help, which can worsen their conditions.