With 67% of Malaysian employees reporting burnout as of April 2024, the country ranks among the highest in the world for workplace stress.

According to Professor Glenn Hitchman, Head of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, the surge in burnout, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, has turned workplace stress into a silent epidemic that affects not just individuals, but the broader economy as well.

“In Malaysia, mental health issues often carry significant stigma, with many perceiving it as a weakness,” said Hitchman. He added that this cultural pressure to appear strong in the workplace forces many employees to conceal their struggles.

This silence, however, does more harm than good. It can create toxic work environments where stress goes unchecked, eventually spiralling into anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.

“Ignoring mental health often leads to absenteeism, turnover, and a direct hit to productivity,” he pointed out.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that poor mental health has cost the global economy US$1 trillion annually, with Malaysia losing RM14.46 billion – 1% of its GDP – due to mental health-related issues.

Work-life balance: a struggle in Malaysia

Further compounding the issue is Malaysia’s poor ranking when it comes to work-life balance. A recent study ranked Malaysia as the second worst country for work-life balance among 60 nations with the highest GDP.

“On average, Malaysian employees work over 45 hours per week,” Hitchman said. “The long hours, combined with pressure from management and limited career development, paint a picture of a workforce that is stretched thin and struggling to keep up.”

The effects of this relentless stress are visible in rising rates of depression.

The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 revealed that approximately one million Malaysians – 4.6% of those over the age of 15 – are suffering from depression.

More worrying is that depression rates have doubled since 2019, with nearly half of those affected reporting thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

“These aren’t just statistics, behind every percentage is a person, an employee trying to juggle the demands of their job while keeping their mental and physical well-being intact,” Hitchman said.

One of the key challenges is identifying when regular work stress escalates into something more serious.

Hitchman explained that two important indicators are the duration and intensity of the stress. “If stress persists long after work-related issues are resolved and feels constant, it’s a sign that something deeper may be wrong,” he said.

Prolonged, chronic stress that lasts for weeks or months can evolve into more severe conditions like anxiety or depression if left untreated.

What now?

The good news is that there are actionable steps both employers and employees can take to address mental health in the workplace. Hitchman emphasised that cultivating an open dialogue can have transformative effects.

“When employees feel safe to discuss their mental health struggles, it can foster a sense of community and support,” he noted.

Personal stories, especially from leadership, can make a huge difference. “For example, when a manager openly discusses their struggles with anxiety, it reassures employees that they are not alone, and that seeking help is acceptable,” he said.

Another interesting measure proposed by Hitchman is a buddy system, where employees regularly check in on each other.

But how realistic are these initiatives?

Hitchman provided Petronas as an example. The MIND-A-CARE programme launched in 2022 was designed to train employees as mental health first aiders. The programme helped reduce the company’s mental health treatment costs by 13.5% in 2022, with the estimated return on investment being RM15.98 million.

Employees, too, play an important role in fostering resilience within the workplace.

Building strong relationships with colleagues, developing personal coping mechanisms like effective time management and relaxation techniques, can help employees manage their stress levels,” Hitchman added.

In the end, Malaysia cannot afford to lose its human capital to stress and burnout. The conversation has started; now it’s time to act.