Doctors urged to utilize mental wellbeing resources as one in five consider leaving healthcare due to wellbeing concerns

One in five doctors in Malaysia say they are considering their future in healthcare due to mental wellbeing concerns, and nearly a quarter (24 percent) cite the impact of exhaustion or burnout on patient safety as a key factor affecting their mental wellbeing. More than 80 percent (83 percent) of doctors go on to say that on-call shortages make it difficult to take time off to deal with mental wellbeing issues. The findings were revealed in a Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of 362 doctors in Malaysia.

The MPS survey results follow a commitment from the newly elected Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president, Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz, to prioritize the wellbeing of doctors during her term as president. At her inaugural speech in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, she said ensuring the wellbeing of healthcare workers was paramount to maintaining high quality care for the best possible outcomes. [https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2023/09/25/health-workers-mental-issues-a-red-flag-mma/. Accessed on 14 November 2023.]

MPS, a protection organization for healthcare professionals, supports over 4,000 healthcare professionals in Malaysia and over 300,000 globally. It encourages doctors to utilize the mental wellbeing support resources available, such as those provided by MPS and MMA. “Doctors dedicate their lives to the noble cause of healing and caring for others, and as part of that it can sometimes feel like we must demonstrate personal resilience and strength at all times. This can make it difficult to acknowledge and seek support for our own health issues—especially mental wellbeing issues—meaning they can be overlooked,” said Dr Rob Hendry, Medical Director at MPS.

The reality is that many doctors all around the world are grappling with mental wellbeing concerns due to the immense pressures and challenges they face daily. As the survey shows, Malaysia is no exception, and doctors in Malaysia should not suffer in silence. When mental wellbeing is poor, it is not only worrying for the individual, but can also jeopardize patient care. Without support, mental wellbeing issues can also get worse and result in doctors needing time off work or even contemplating leaving the healthcare profession altogether, said Hendry.

He noted the need to work as a community to break down the stigma associated with doctors seeking mental wellbeing support and said MPS very much welcomed Azizan’s commitment to mental wellbeing in her term. Ultimately, seeking support should be actively encouraged as it can help doctors continue to perform at their best for patients, and enjoy their careers in medicine for longer. “We would urge healthcare professionals who are struggling to make use of the mental wellbeing resources and support available – for example, MPS provides an independent, 24-hour counselling service for those experiencing stress that they feel could impact their practice as a benefit of membership. MMA, in partnership with the Ministry of Health Malaysia, also runs the Helpdoc Helpline, a mental wellbeing support service for all doctors reachable by email or phone,” said Hendry. 

Azizan said: “Mental wellbeing is a top priority during my term as President of the MMA. Our healthcare professionals are the backbone of our nation’s health, and their mental health matters deeply. We are committed to addressing these challenges head-on and creating an environment where every healthcare professional feels valued, protected, and equipped to provide the highest level of care to patients.”

Medical Protection offers free counselling to its members experiencing stress that they feel could impact their practice. The service is entirely independent and confidential and is available in both Malay and English. Members can call 1800 889 355 or 016 216 0379 and quote their Medical Protection membership number to book a free session. More information is available at https://www.medicalprotection.org/malaysia/help-advice/counselling-service.

The MMA Helpdoc Helpline, in partnership with the Ministry of Health Malaysia, extends its vital support for mental wellbeing to all doctors. Doctors can reach out via email at helpdoc@mma.org.my or by phone at 03 4041 1140 from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm. More information is available at https://mma.org.my/helpdoc/.

Healthcare professionals who participated in the MPS survey commented anonymously:

“The workload and bullying in the workplace have made me consider resigning from my current profession. There is no outlet to express my concerns or dissatisfaction as my thoughts are merely dismissed as complaining and the lack of resilience.” 

“Physical exhaustion causing mental drainage.”

“Need help to reach out to a Consultant Psychiatrist or Counsellor who can support mental health.”

“Not many people understand the pressure and stress anesthesiologists are under since the year 2020. Since the pandemic, we have been working tirelessly. Even when we are tired, there are patients waiting for surgeries and we are pushed to provide more services.”

“I feel now medical litigation is becoming more common, and this worries me. It feels like there is not much joy in practicing medicine anymore, I almost always need to practice defensive medicine and order unnecessary tests just to cover myself.”

“There are not enough people to assist or manage the wards, especially at night. It puts us at severe pressure to ensure the blood investigations are done during the night itself and prior to the arrival of the morning colleagues. With a lack of staff, it certainly puts us at great risk.”