By Adjunct Professor Dr Sangeeta Kaur

SINCE 2010, Emerging Journey Asia (EJAsia) made significant strides in empowering organisation and individual to improve productivity, performance and healthier workplace culture for sustainability by implementing psychological aspects in all their trainings, coaching and programs.

As we all know, psychological wellbeing (mental & emotional) is something that organisation and also individual does not take serious about due to its stigma and also ‘it will not affect me’.

Another factor is that, it cannot be evaluated easily by revenue and KPI. However, this mindset changed during Covid-19, where now there’s a need for psychological wellbeing.

Recently, EJAsia organised its ground-breaking Mental Health Experiential Conference (MHEC) 2.0, aimed to improving mental health at workplace.

Officiated by YB Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad, Chairman of Health for Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSCC), who championed the initiative back in 2019, when he was the Health Minister.

This initiative received support from the International Youth Centre (IYC), Yayasan Health on World (YHOW), PERKAMA International, the Malaysian Occupational Safety and Health Practitioners (MOSHPA) and Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) signalling a united force in addressing the pressing issue of mental health in corporate setting.

MHEC 2.0 themed ‘Psychological Health for Employers and Leaders’ equip leaders with valuable tools and resources to enhance their mental health and overall well-being.

These initiative comes during time when mental health issues in the workplace remain unaddressed, as emphasized by President of the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).

Recognizing the importance of mental health in personal and professional growth, the programme is designed to support and uplift leaders within the corporate ecosystem.

The event concluded with Adam Adli Abd Halim, who aimed to empower the youth in the workforce and young leaders in management teams to prioritize their mental well-being.

In Malaysia, the economic cost of poor mental health stumble, amounting to approximately RM14.46 billion, equivalent to 1 per cent of the country’s GDP. In 2021, Malaysia witnessed a distressing total of 1,142 suicides, a number that continues to rise.

Yet, employers and leaders hesitate to speak about mental health creating a barrier for those seeking assistance. Surprisingly, only 13 per cent of employers are familiar with interventions that promote well-being.

MHEC 2.0 brought together leaders from various industries from Human Resources, Manufacturing, Constructions, Oil & Gas, Telecommunication, Medical, Armed Forces, Education, Sports and others related to the field.

The conference addressed a wide range of mental health concerns in Malaysia, including financial constraints, physiological challenges, generational gaps, different working environments, and self-care routine.

Interactive sessions, thought-provoking discussions, and experiential activities equipped attendees with information to understand the concept of mental health and awareness campaign. The goal of MHEC 2.0 was to equip employers with knowledge and tools needed to support mental health.

We are the pioneer in mental health, known for its ability to assist organizations in achieving sustainable growth and achieved this through innovative application of results-driven methodologies designed to facilitate personal growth.

Our commitment to customization and technology advancement forms the backbone of a comprehensive suite of services, empowering individuals, and organizations to effectively operate.

Mental health at workplace is no longer a hidden issue in Malaysia, initiatives like MHEC 2.0 in leading the way in fostering a healthier and productive corporate environment.

As the importance of psychological awareness continues to grow, the impact of this initiative is extended far beyond the conference room, positively affecting countless lives in Malaysia.

_{The writer is the founder and CEO of EJAsia and Yayasan Health On World (YHOW). She obtained her PhD in Social Science, Masters in Counselling and currently pursuing her Masters in Law Enforcement.}

NOTE: The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of Apa Khabar TV