Promoting Mental Health at METEOR

For most people, it is probably much easier to say, “I have Covid-19” than “I have anxiety/burnout/stress/depression.”

However, many of us can be affected by mental health issues at some point in our lives. These issues may impose huge psychological burdens on us. Not being able to talk about it could cause us to fall into a very dark place. This will not only affect our internal state badly but also our ability to work.

Realising the importance of having happy and healthy minds at the office, the METEOR Group held a Mental Health Awareness Programme for its staff from 14 to 16 March. The programme was conducted by Tongle, a mental wellness company. It has a round-the-clock clubhouse at Kelana Centre Point, near the OUM Main Campus.

The programme sought to raise METEOR staff’s awareness about mental health, help them understand their own mental health status, and evaluate the overall mental health status in the organisation.

Besides screening tests and games, the programme included a 2-day training on First Aid in Mental Health. With emphasis on creating a peer support system, the training attracted interested staff to become mental health first aiders.

“We want to create a supportive environment where these mental health first aiders can help their colleagues to better manage their mental health and prevent more serious problems from developing,” said METEOR Group HR manager, Aznam Zakaria.

A participant concurred, saying, “We need a supportive and understanding environment so that we can speak openly about our mental health. We have to break down stigmas and support colleagues who may be struggling.”

Supporting mental health in the workplace is no longer a nice-to-have but a necessity. We can say that appointing mental health first aiders at METEOR is a step in the right direction.