A recent poll conducted by CodeBlue among 87 government healthcare workers, primarily doctors, nationwide revealed that a significant majority, 89%, attributed their mental health issues to work-related problems. Additionally, 76% of respondents admitted that perceived obstacles in career progression deterred them from seeking help for their mental health issues.
The survey collected responses from government healthcare workers across Malaysia, including medical officers from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and university hospitals. It also included responses from a nurse, an assistant medical officer, and a physiotherapist.
Out of the 87 respondents, 72% reported experiencing mental health issues (44%) or were unsure about their mental health status (29%). Of the 68 respondents who answered a question about being diagnosed with a mental health condition, 18% (12 respondents) confirmed that they had received such a diagnosis.
The primary objective of the survey was to assess the prevalence of mental health concerns and the readiness of government healthcare professionals in Malaysia to seek treatment. The survey was prompted by the tragic deaths of two healthcare workers in Klang in June, suspected to be suicides. These incidents occurred approximately a year after the death of a houseman at Penang Hospital in April 2022, which led to the formation of the Healthcare Work Culture Improvement Task Force (HWCITF). The task force presented its findings in August 2022.
The CodeBlue mental health poll comprised 17 questions, with optional responses to six questions that covered topics such as mental health symptoms, the source of mental health conditions, diagnosis status, the specific condition diagnosed, help-seeking behavior, and reasons for not seeking help. As a result, the sample size for these six questions varied among respondents.
