By Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Member of Mental Health Advisory Council
KOTA KINABALU: We are living in a time when conversations about productivity, performance, and profitability dominate the workplace. Yet, one critical element continues to be overlooked or, worse, deliberately ignored—mental health.
“Breaking the Silence: Mental Health Matters at Work” is not just a theme; it is a call to action. For far too long, employees have suffered in silence, burdened by stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and workplace pressures without adequate support or understanding. The stigma surrounding mental health has created barriers that prevent individuals from seeking help, often leading to devastating consequences for both employees and organisations.
Mental health is not a personal issue alone—it is a workplace issue. A mentally healthy workforce is more engaged, productive, and resilient. Conversely, poor mental health leads to absenteeism, presenteeism, reduced performance, and increased healthcare costs. More importantly, it affects lives, families, and communities.
Employers must recognise that creating a safe and supportive psychosocial work environment is not optional—it is a responsibility. This includes:
* Promoting open conversations about mental health without fear of stigma or discrimination;* Providing access to mental health resources, counselling, and employee assistance programmes;* Training managers to recognise early signs of mental distress and respond with empathy;* Ensuring reasonable workloads, work-life balance, and fair treatment at all levels;* Establishing clear policies to address workplace bullying, harassment, and toxic cultures.
At the same time, employees must also be encouraged to prioritise their mental well-being, seek help when needed, and support one another in fostering a culture of care and understanding.
The government and relevant authorities should further strengthen policies and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that mental health at the workplace is safeguarded. This includes integrating mental health into occupational safety and health frameworks and encouraging organisations, especially SMEs, to adopt best practices.
Breaking the silence requires courage—but more importantly, it requires commitment. Commitment from employers to care, from employees to speak up, and from society to normalise mental health conversations.
No one should have to suffer in silence. It is time we acknowledge that mental health matters—at every workplace, at every level, and for every individual.
Together, let us break the silence and build workplaces that truly care.
