Traumatic experience with Klink Kesihatan, contrast with private
Recently, I went to a KK to get a referral letter from the GP for gov psychiatric services. I was told by my counsellor to get assessed psychologically to better manage my symptoms, mainly being ADHD and OCD; and to get more consistent help.
Booked through the MySej app for outpatient, arrived at 1040am and waited for about 2hrs past my scheduled time until a staff took my blood pressure, height and weight, then another hour before I saw the GP.
The nurses and staff were kind, but the GP was not. I felt like I was being interrogated and dismissed throughout the 30?mins I was in there, unsure how long it actually was but it felt like forever.
I told the doctor I’ve mainly been struggling with lack of motivation, anxiety, guilt, and shame since childhood but my symptoms have escalated whereby my physical health is at risk; but the doctor just kept asking me why I’m having these issues.
I mean, I don’t know?? That’s why I’m here 😭😭😭
It got to a point where she got frustrated at me and raised her voice, asking “you keep telling me all about your problems but you’re not telling me why?! How am I supposed to help you if you can’t tell me why you have all these problems?!”
She then probed more on my background and my childhood traumas which got me crying as it was a sensitive topic for me. At some point she even said I was very lucky I even get to go to uni; which really didn’t help considering I told her how I’ve always felt like a burden… I was sobbing at this point.
I was also so embarrassed because the door was wide open and all the staff and patients walking by could see and hear me basically choke on my own tears after talking about how I feel like a failure in life.
She then left the room, no explanation, for about 10mins and I was left alone as I tried to collect myself.
She came back with a letter for me to go for gov counselling, and to come back to the KK for blood tests and thyroid tests. I was in distraught, after all of that, and I don’t even get what I came here for?
She proceeded to tell me to “exercise, sleep normally and take deep breaths”, and “lots of people have stress and feel like this” — I just told her I’ve been wanting to jump or get hit by a car for a few years now.
It wasn’t even the fact that I didn’t get the letter, if she was any bit kinder to me, I would’ve left the room hopeful that, well, tomorrow would be better.
I left the KK crying at 230pm feeling incredibly isolated and helpless.
Out of frustration, I went straight to a private klinik after a mini cry session in my car. I went in, saw the GP, told her I needed a referral. She asked me about my symptoms and what my concerns were about my mental health worsening, and said the reception would hand me the letter.
I was in that room for no more than 10mins, and out of the klinik in 30mins. I wasn’t sobbing out the room, didn’t shed a tear, my eyes might’ve even dried up at how calm the whole process was. I also only paid rm30.
I’m baffled at the stark difference between public and private.
I could see how the KK supported the local community, there were mak ciks, atuks, a grandpa pushing a wheelchaired granny, a family with 4 kids under 5; and the medicine dispensary went pretty quick too, so I won’t criticise KKs. I’m sure they’re stretched thin as they are already, but I just wish my experience was better.