Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian National News Agency's (Bernama) Public Service Counselling Associates (AKRAB) is a highly active and committed team, implementing programmes at both the agency and Ministry of Communication levels. Bernama's chief executive officer, Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, emphasized the annual planning of numerous programmes aimed at ensuring AKRAB's role in fostering a harmonious work environment and supporting the well-being of its officers.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, mental health issues within the civil service remain a key focus. A report from the public service digital psychological health profiling system revealed that between March and December 2024, 44,901 civil servants who underwent screening were identified as high-risk. These mental health issues were related to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and behavioral issues, including suicide. This data was shared at the closing of the 2025 AKRAB Open Day at Wisma Bernama, where the speech by Nur-ul Afida was delivered by Sharifah Zaini Syed Zain, head of Management and Finance Services and deputy chairperson of Bernama's AKRAB.
The event was attended by notable figures such as Bernama head of Commercial Mastura Hassan, head of Strategic Planning Division Harlina Samson, and head of Bernama Radio Azlan Idris. Nur-ul Afida highlighted that the high-risk group represents 4.6 percent of the approximately 975,780 civil servants who participated in the screening process.
The government, through the Public Service Department (JPA), is addressing these concerns by developing MyPsyD, a tool to identify the psychological health of officers and implement necessary support measures. AKRAB Bernama contributes by offering the DASS (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) test to pinpoint individuals in need of psychological assistance.
AKRAB Bernama is dedicated to being a source of support and conversation, ensuring that individuals facing challenges do not feel isolated. The AKRAB Open Day engaged over 100 Bernama staff members and featured various activities. Exhibiting partners such as Takaful Malaysia, JPA, the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), KPJ Eyecare Specialist Sdn Bhd, and the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission also participated in the event.