A recent assessment revealing that over 55,000 Malaysian civil servants are at high risk of poor mental well-being has prompted calls for comprehensive reforms in the government’s approach to psychological health. The findings were announced on September 21 by Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, director-general of the Public Service Department (JPA), who highlighted data from the Digital Psychological Health Profiling System. The figures include a segment of civil servants considered at risk of suicide.

In response, Assoc Prof Dr Shazli Ezzat Ghazali, president of the Malaysian Psychological Association, emphasized the need to strengthen the National Psychological Infrastructure. He advocated for integrating professional expertise, high competency standards, ethical practices, research, data collection, screening mechanisms, intervention, and referral systems into a coordinated framework. Dr Shazli stressed that identification of high-risk individuals through screening should be followed by professional psychological assessments to accurately evaluate risk levels and determine suitable interventions.

“What matters most is what comes next – professional assessment, early intervention, clear referral pathways, continuous monitoring and case management,” Dr Shazli said. He also underscored the urgent need for immediate response mechanisms—such as safety planning and active follow-up—for those at risk of self-harm. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of workplace policies that promote psychological well-being, helping to safeguard productivity, decision-making, and employee engagement.

The president also called for a review of the psychological workforce capacity within the civil service. This includes assessing the ratio of mental health professionals to employees and high-risk cases, the distribution of specialists across ministries and agencies, as well as caseload management.

Mental health counsellor Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan added that all employers, including government agencies, should implement comprehensive mental health plans to support their workforce’s well-being over the long term. She emphasized the importance of confidentiality in mental health support, noting that private information shared during therapy sessions must not be disclosed to employers. Dr Anasuya stressed that employees should have the freedom to choose their therapists to ensure trust and effectiveness in treatment.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad expressed the ministry’s readiness to assist JPA with developing new mental health guidelines tailored specifically for the civil service. Speaking at the launch of the National-level 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day event in Ipoh, he noted that although the health ministry already maintains its own mental health protocols, it is willing to lend expertise to support JPA’s initiatives.

JPA is also in the process of creating a Happiness Index aimed at monitoring and improving the overall mental well-being of government employees. The department’s efforts reflect a growing recognition of mental health as a critical concern within Malaysia’s civil service and underline the urgency for coordinated interventions to address these challenges.