Mental Health And The Effects On The Economy

Jamari Mohtar and Tam Mei Si are part of the research team of EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.

- Jamari Mohtar And Tammeisi

Mental health problem is expected to become the second most common health problem for Malaysians after heart disease in 2020. Based on the latest National Health and Morbidity Survey, three out of every 10 adults aged 16 and above in our nation will suffer from mental health problem.

This is further illustrated by Mercy Malaysia and the Health Ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre. They set up a hotline for those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, the results were not surprising – 46.8 percent of the calls were from people who have some form of psychological problem.

What many people do not comprehend is the effects of mental health problems can certainly affect economic performance of a country. The cost of mental health problems in the workplace to our economy was estimated at RM14.46 billion in 2018.

All these are in line with the findings of EMIR Research Quarterly Poll for the third quarter of this year, when 72% of Malaysians are worried over their mental health. What’s more, the same poll found Malaysia’s overall National Worry Index (NWI) is at 0.79. This number steps into the area of maximum worry, just one notch below the unhealthy level of 0.80 of maximum worry.

Thus, we can conclude the feeling of worry over socio-economic problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic-related worries for an average Malaysian has intensified.

The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has penetrated each level of society from any conceivable angle. Although the purpose of the restrictions on social movement is to protect our citizens from an infection, but it unintentionally puts people at risk of worsening their mental health.