Excessive workloads, relentless workplace pressure and fear of discrimination are driving employees towards depression and serious mental health problems, with many reluctant to seek help over concerns that their careers could suffer.
Nadia, a 24-year-old private sector employee from Selangor who wished to be identified only by her first name, said prolonged stress at work led to chronic depression and eventually forced her to seek medical treatment.
“I sought treatment last July after my health deteriorated. The root cause of my chronic depression was an excessive workload and constant pressure from my employer to complete tasks immediately,” she said.
Nadia said the pressure affected her concentration, causing her to make repeated mistakes. Her employer subsequently issued her a warning memo, dismissing her explanations as negligence.
Without a strong support system at work, her condition worsened to the point that she experienced suicidal thoughts, including while driving and thoughts of overdosing on sleeping pills. This prompted her to seek medical treatment.
Although she has continued working following treatment, Nadia said she has kept her diagnosis from her employer out of fear of negative reactions and prejudice from colleagues.
She urged employers to assign reasonable workloads and make employees’ mental well-being a priority.
For Muhamed, a 38-year-old food delivery rider who has struggled with depression and anxiety disorders for several years, returning to full-time employment remains a daunting prospect.
He said unpredictable symptoms, including fatigue, confused thinking and difficulty concentrating, made it challenging to meet workplace demands.
“When I worked as a supermarket cashier in my early twenties, my health frequently interfered with my performance,” he said.
Muhamed switched to full-time food delivery in 2023 to support his wife and two children. However, he said he remained worried about requesting time off or sick leave because employers might not accept his condition.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Institute for Social Science Studies Youth and Community Wellbeing Laboratory head Dr Aini Azeqa Ma’rof said employees experiencing mental health difficulties should not be sidelined or discriminated against.
She urged employers to take proactive steps to accommodate affected workers, including adjusting job responsibilities to suit their needs and allowing flexible working hours for medical appointments.
“Such arrangements should be discussed with the employee and reviewed according to their progress. Adjustments do not mean waiving all responsibilities, but creating conditions that allow tasks to be performed effectively,” she said.
Aini Azeqa also stressed the importance of protecting employees’ confidentiality while addressing excessive workloads, staff shortages, workplace bullying, harassment and unclear job responsibilities.
She pointed to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health’s Guidelines on Assessment and Management of Psychosocial Risks at Work (PRisMA), which provide a framework for identifying, evaluating and managing psychological and social risks in the workplace.
