PUTRAJAYA, June 19 — The existing stress and mental health management measures for health workers are sufficient but can be improved if necessary, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said.
She was elaborating on the sudden deaths of two health workers, including a doctor who was four months’ pregnant, in Klang district, in Selangor on June 4 and 6, as well as the need to improve stress management measures at her ministry.
She said existing methods include counselling interventions and contacting the National Mental Health Crisis Line or HEAL Line at 15555 to help those facing mental health problems get early help, adding that her ministry remained concerned about mental health issues among health workers, which was always a priority.
“For any worker who has emotional or stress issues, we have the space to have consultations and so on,” she said, adding that the deaths were still under police investigation.
She said the issue of mental health was the second pillar of the Health White Paper, which outlined the challenges faced by the country’s healthcare system and solutions to ensure a higher-quality, sustainable and resilient healthcare system.
