Kuala lumpur: Workplaces cannot be considered safe if employees are suffering from burnout due to unrealistic workloads or are subjected to bullying and harassment, according to Mental Health Advisory Council member Lee Lam Thye.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lee highlighted findings from the Employment Hero's Wellness at Work Report for 2024 and 2022, which revealed an alarming burnout rate among Malaysian employees. The report found that 67 percent of workers experienced burnout in 2024, marking a significant increase from 58 percent in 2022.

Lee emphasized that these issues are not merely "soft issues" but are significant psychosocial risks that can be as dangerous as physical hazards like slippery floors or faulty machinery. He noted that these risks impact mental health, which is crucial for shaping productivity, decision-making, relationships, and overall organizational success.

He further explained that mental health is closely linked to physical health, with chronic stress contributing to serious conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, weakened immunity, and sleep disorders. Lee also pointed out the issue of presenteeism, where employees are physically present but mentally disengaged, which he described as a more dangerous problem than absenteeism.

Lee argued that presenteeism silently drains productivity and negatively impacts national economic growth. He urged employers to recognize the importance of creating a safe and supportive psychosocial work environment as a responsibility rather than an option.

He recommended promoting open conversations about mental health, providing access to mental health resources and employee assistance programs, training managers to recognize signs of mental distress, ensuring reasonable workloads and work-life balance, and establishing policies to address workplace bullying and harassment.

Lee also called on the government to incorporate psychosocial risks into the national occupational safety and health framework, emphasizing the importance of treating psychological safety as seriously as physical safety.

He concluded by stating that addressing mental health in the workplace is not just a modern trend but a necessity, stressing that no one should suffer in silence and that mental health matters at every workplace and for every individual.