KUCHING: In this fast pace environment, people struggle and juggle with studies or work, but has anyone made effort to find out how they are coping mentally?
Every day, someone out there is stressed. There are different levels of stress that affects one’s mental health.
To this, a doctor from the Sarawak Health Department, who is also a member and active volunteer with Befrienders Kuching Sarawak, suggested a peer support group be set up in schools, colleges, and workplace.
Dr Mirunaaleni Selvaraju, 33, said companies should set up support groups to support one another emotionally.
“The peer support group focuses more on the employee’s emotion. Some of our colleagues might be going through a hard time, things that worry them, and we might not realise it.
“How many organisations actually coach their employees to manage stress? And how many of them give stress to their employees? I believe, many,” she said.
She said it was important to have a peer support group, where the employees could open up, do some activities or go on outings together to release stress.
“Most organisations don’t have a counsellor but they have human resources that are trained for this. And by listening to the employees, it shows that you care for them.
She said peer support could also help improve productivity levels.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Mental Health Association chairman Dr Ismail Drahman opined that peer support group was the way to go as people could speak freely.
“In the civil service, there is a support group called Rakan Pembimbing. To me it is very useful in the early detection of any distressed colleagues or those having difficulties in their daily activities,” he said.
He said through the support group, employees could share ideas and motivate each other.
“This requires training for the person to identify, assess and help the other person. If ever the helper cannot handle the issues, they can refer them to professionals.”
Dr Ismail believed that bigger organisations have such support groups, and hoped more private organisations could follow suit.
