Mental health challenges among educators have escalated into a national concern, prompting the government to intensify efforts to safeguard the well-being of teachers and education leaders nationwide.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the issue must not be treated as secondary, warning that declining mental well-being among educators could undermine teaching quality and student development.
Citing global estimates, he noted that one in four individuals is expected to experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime, with anxiety cases rising by 25 per cent worldwide following the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said similar trends are evident in Malaysia’s education sector, where reports from the Health Ministry and local universities indicate rising cases of burnout, emotional stress and sleep disorders among teachers, driven largely by increasing workload pressures.
“Teachers are not only responsible for teaching and learning, but are also burdened with administrative and clerical duties, which, if unmanaged, can lead to serious mental health issues, including high levels of stress and depression,” he said.
He was speaking at the Wacana Kesejahteraan Minda Pemimpin Pendidikan Madani forum at Universiti Teknologi Mara Sabah.
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Mustapha stressed that the impact extends beyond educators. Poor mental well-being among teachers can reduce motivation and creativity in the classroom, ultimately affecting students’ holistic development and the overall learning environment.
In response, he said the government has introduced several measures, including early mental health intervention programmes in schools and universities, resilience and stress management training for educators, and expanded psychosocial support networks involving registered counsellors and non-governmental organisations.
He added that the government is studying a proposal to establish Education Mental Wellbeing Centres in every state, which would serve as hubs for training, intervention and support within the education system.
Emphasising the Malaysia Madani framework, he urged education leaders to prioritise mental well-being within their institutions, noting that stable and motivated teachers are key to nurturing confident students and building a resilient nation.
The forum, he said, aimed to equip educators and institutional leaders with practical tools to manage mental health challenges, while also offering insights on how to support the well-being of students and campus communities.
“The government recognises the seriousness of mental health issues and has allocated funding to support well-being programmes. We also encourage greater collaboration among stakeholders, including educational institutions, communities and relevant agencies, to ensure a more comprehensive approach,” he said.
On the economic outlook, Mustapha said the government is closely monitoring concerns over fuel supply, which may remain constrained until May or, at the latest, June.
He said several measures are being considered to reduce fuel consumption and ease pressure on resources, including expanding work-from-home arrangements and implementing online learning, particularly at the university level, to reduce daily travel.
The government is currently studying the effectiveness of these measures and will announce further decisions in due course, he added.
Despite these challenges, he said the government has maintained the price of RON95 petrol and continued fuel subsidies for Sabah and Sarawak, providing relief to consumers and helping to contain the cost of living.
Separately, Mustapha addressed ongoing water supply disruptions in the Sepanggar area following complaints from residents about inconsistent supply.
He said his office is working closely with the Sabah State Water Department to prioritise affected areas and restore stability, noting that the current dry season has strained water resources.
“As an immediate measure, we have deployed water tankers to areas experiencing more than three days without supply. For locations that are difficult to access, particularly in hilly areas, bottled water is also being distributed,” he said.
He added that these temporary measures will remain in place while efforts continue to address the root causes of the disruption, with conditions expected to improve once the dry season ends around June.
