LETTERS: A study published by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information in 2022 highlighted the prevalence of poor mental health among Malaysian adults. The number rose from 10.7 per cent in 1996 to 29.3 per cent in 2019.
With only 410 registered psychiatrists in 2018, the psychiatrist-to-population ratio stands at 1.27 per 100,000 individuals, below the World Health Organisation's recommended ratio of one psychiatrist for every 10,000 people.
The mental wellbeing of those in the healthcare industry, where human interaction is paramount, needs to be addressed, especially among the Gen Z employees and those born in 1996.
One approach is to implement regular mental health check-ins and make counselling services accessible.
ELMAN MUSTAFA EL BAKRI
Member, Industrial Advisory Panel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
