PUTRAJAYA: The Public Service Department (PSD) has called into question the claim that 400,000 civil servants are under stress.
PSD psychology management division deputy director Dr Abdul Jalil Hassan said today that the figure, given by the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), was based on a university study of a specific group of civil servants and several engagements.
“The sampling of the study didn’t take into account the entire civil service,” he told a press conference held to clear the air on the issue.
“Therefore, the figure doesn’t represent the entire service.
“The study was generalised and wasn’t done in a holistic manner.”
While not denying that some civil servants were under stress, he said stress must be defined correctly.
“There is good stress and bad stress,” he said.
“Good stress makes you more productive and provide better service delivery to the people.
“If stress pushes you to do better and feel better later, then it is good stress.
“Bad stress is something we have to identify and seek help.”
Recently, Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda had claimed that 400,000 or 25 to 30 per cent of the country’s civil servants were under stress.
Jalil also challenged the claim that the 400,000 civil servants held psychiatric cards.
“This card, which is issued by the Health Ministry, is given in confidentiality.
“Only the person who possesses the card would know. “That is why we can’t verify how many have it.
“Furthermore, owning the card doesn’t mean the person is crazy or suffering from a mental disorder.
“It could just mean the person is getting help or treatment.”
Jalil said an officer was stationed at each government office and department to screen and help those who were suffering from stress.
He said there no data on stressed out civil servants because no study had ever been done.
He said studies would be conducted on the mental health of civil servants in the future.