NOVEMBER-DECEMBER , 2021 | THE HEALTH

Dr Rajbans Singh

President , Malaysian Wellness Society

The Ministry of Health ( MoH ) reported from March 2020 to May this year , 85.5 per cent of distress calls received by government agencies were related to mental health issues such as acute stress , anxiety , depression , abuse and suicidal behaviour .

Causes for this psychological and emotional distress include loneliness due to social isolation , loss of employment and declined income which changes their life plans and goals , and even the loss of one or more of their loved ones to the Covid-19 virus .

Meanwhile , those who survived Covid- 19 may be struggling with the aftermath symptoms and lingering fear of illness .

At the same time , frontliners , particularly healthcare workers , are overwhelmed with many cases and are experiencing burnouts , fatigue and stress .

Due to the rise in cases , the pandemic has created a long-overdue focus on mental health issues .

Mental healthcare landscape post-pandemic

President of Malaysian Wellness Society , Dr Rajbans Singh , said Malaysia ’ s mental healthcare landscape in 2022 appears to be good .

“ The pandemic has created an awareness about the need for good mental health programmes . And there is a lot of awareness been created by the government and the media and people and corporations are taking mental health more seriously .”

Concerning reports of post-pandemic anxiety cases due to prolonged limited social interaction and fear of illness , Dr Rajbans said : “ Again , creating awareness is essential . We are seeing a lot of patients with anxiety , both young and old .

“ Relatives and friends and work colleagues can help to identify those with anxiety and advise them to seek help .

“ Anxiety , if not treated , can lead to more severe conditions like depression and even suicide .

“ The MoH and various NGO ’ s have helplines that you can call for guidance . Your local GP might be able to help you .” Despite the awareness , there is still a stigma surrounding therapy and counselling , which prevents people from seeking treatment .

“ We need to educate the public about the importance of mental health and informing them through various means that going for therapy and counselling is as important as going to see a doctor for a physical illness . The media can play a big role in this education .”

There is also the issue of the lack of mental health professionals to accommodate the rise of mental health patients .

Currently , Malaysia only has one psychiatrist for every 100,000 people , whereas the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) recommends one psychiatrist for every 10,000 people .

Dr Rajbans stressed the need for sending more persons for training and said : “ The MoH has realised this , and also the government needs to allocate a budget for training this personnel .”

Promoting mental wellness

According to Dr Rajbans , wellness comprises many things , focusing on the mind , body and spirit .

“ It comprises of a holistic approach to health and focuses mainly on preventive health .

“ It will include concepts like having a purpose in life , having goals , having a close and healthy relationship with family and friends , having faith , well-balanced nutrition , regular exercise , managing stress and good sleep habits and avoiding toxins .”

The Blue Zones , he said , have shown that following certain principles will lead to longevity and both good mental and physical health . KHIRTINI K KUMARAN — The Health