NST Leader: Mental health support for teachers

The Education Ministry in Malaysia has identified 691 teachers out of a total of 82,126 across primary and secondary schools who require urgent mental health support and psychological intervention. The primary reasons for their poor mental health include overwhelming workloads, toxic leadership, and the increasing demands of digital and administrative tasks.

Additionally, teachers face financial difficulties, stress from work performance, and harassment from parents, which can lead to isolation and hesitation to seek help. A screening based on the Psychological Well-Being Inventory (IKPsi) framework revealed that 636 teachers were at a moderate level of mental exhaustion, while 32 were experiencing severe psychological distress.

These teachers, who faced major issues like crushing debt, toxic work environments, and severe burnout, were provided with counselling and psychiatric evaluation. The remaining 23 teachers were categorised as low, with symptoms of clinical depression, burnout, and severe psychological distress. They have been placed under intensive therapy and medical leave.

The screening findings raise concerns as many teachers may have already been in poor mental health prior to the assessment. The relatively low percentage of teachers flagged could be due to the screening's structure, as teachers often hide their symptoms and answer survey questions perfectly to avoid negative evaluations. A comparison with figures from developed nations, such as Australia, the UK, and the US, highlights the severity of the situation in Malaysia, where only 25 to 35 percent of teachers typically suffer from clinical depression.

The Ministry's screening is a crucial first step towards early detection, but success will depend on sustained support for teacher recovery, removing the stigma surrounding seeking help, and ensuring privacy and confidentiality for those who need assistance.