Mental Health Must Not Be Stigmatised, Says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Mental health issues must not be stigmatised or taken lightly, as failing to address them early could have serious consequences for individuals and their teams, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said.

As such, he urged all divisions, departments and agencies under the Communications Ministry to prioritise employees' mental well-being and provide appropriate support to those in need.

“I urge everyone to pay close attention to mental health. It should not be a source of stigma or something we dismiss, trivialise or ignore.

“If we fail to recognise the warning signs and take action, what initially appears to be a minor issue could escalate and harm not only the individual concerned but also the entire team,” he said at the ministry’s monthly assembly, organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) here today in conjunction with National Sports Day.

Present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.

Fahmi said the rise of social media had added to workplace pressures, with seemingly harmless matters sometimes becoming controversial overnight.

“With social media platforms, something we consider positive one day can become contentious the next.

“That is why mental health must be prioritised, and we should give our staff and teams the space they need to heal and recharge,” he said.

He also instructed Abdul Halim to prepare mental health awareness materials for distribution and review across the ministry's divisions, departments and agencies.

In conjunction with National Sports Day, Fahmi encouraged ministry personnel to adopt healthier lifestyles, including maintaining a balanced diet and reducing sugar consumption.

“I urge everyone to practise a healthy lifestyle and watch their diet. Most importantly, we need to embrace the habit of cutting down on sugar," he said.

On another development, Fahmi said the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA welfare fund had distributed RM2.54 million in assistance to 864 media practitioners and veteran journalists nationwide between 2023 and Oct 12 this year.

He said Telekom Malaysia (TM), announced as the fund's new strategic partner in June, had contributed RM500,000 through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.

“We thank TM for its contribution. Tabung Kasih@HAWANA allows us to work with media clubs to identify the challenges faced by media personnel," he said.

Established by the Communications Ministry in conjunction with National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) in 2023, the fund is coordinated by Bernama to provide assistance to media practitioners and veteran journalists in need.

-- BERNAMA