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The Health Ministry is consulting the Human Resources Ministry and other stakeholders on a policy that aims to support employees’ mental wellbeing beyond counselling services.
Malaysia’s proposed workplace mental health policy remains under development, with the Ministry of Health (MOH) seeking further engagement with the Ministry of Human Resources and other relevant parties before it is finalised.
As cited by The Star, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Minister of Health said more consultations were needed to ensure a coordinated approach and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We need a bit more engagement to be done on this. As soon as we can get it out, we will inform you,” he told reporters at a press conference during the launch of the National-level 2026 World Mental Health Celebration.
In July, Datuk Dzulkefly said he aimed to finalise the policy draft by September or October, following engagement sessions with ministries, agencies and other stakeholders.
Policy to look beyond counselling services
As further reported by The Star, the proposed policy is expected to address employees’ mental wellbeing beyond access to counselling, taking into account work-life balance and support mechanisms in the workplace. Datuk Dzulkefly said the policy aims to help create working environments that support employees’ mental health while reducing the risk of burnout and excessive workloads.
MOH to expand access to mental health services
Separately, Datuk Dzulkefly acknowledged the growing demand for mental health services in Malaysia.
MOH has about 400 psychiatrists, out of approximately 700 registered psychiatrists nationwide. It aims to improve the psychiatrist-to-population ratio from around one psychiatrist per 69,000 people to one per 40,000 through increased specialist training.
He said the ministry would continue expanding access to mental health services through government hospitals, health clinics and community-based services, with support from the private sector and other agencies as part of a whole-of-society approach.
Malaysia has about 10,000 registered counsellors, including 300 within the ministry. MOH is also adopting a “task-shifting” approach to meet demand by involving more healthcare professionals in mental health support.
“We should not be looking only at psychiatrists, but also at registered counsellors and Family Medicine Specialists (FMS),” Datuk Dzulkefly was quoted as saying.
Psychiatric services are available at 68 government hospitals and four psychiatric institutions. More than 500 Family Medicine Specialists provide mental healthcare at the primary care level, while mental health services are also available at 1,116 government health clinics nationwide.
Datuk Dzulkefly said greater involvement from counsellors, family medicine specialists, and other healthcare personnel would help the ministry respond to rising demand for mental health services.
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Lead image / Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's Facebook
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