Dr. Lionel Eric A/L Benjiman is a psychiatrist with over a decade of clinical experience across the Malaysian public healthcare system. He completed his medical degree at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and his Doctorate of Psychiatry at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), training across HCTM UKM and Sarawak General Hospital. Before specialising, he spent four years as a Medical Officer in Psychiatry, following house officer rotations spanning orthopaedics, internal medicine, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, surgery and psychiatry — a breadth that informs his attention to the physical health dimensions of psychiatric presentations.

His practice is grounded in a holistic approach that integrates psychotherapeutic work with psychopharmacological management, rather than treating either in isolation. He has trained in cognitive behavioural therapy through the Beck Institute, interpersonal psychotherapy, and schema therapy, and is completing a Master Certificate in Psychopharmacology with the Neuroscience Education Institute.

Alongside clinical work, Dr. Lionel is an active researcher and public educator. His published work spans adverse childhood experiences and recovery motivation in methamphetamine use, internet gaming disorder, and psychological distress in cardiovascular patients. He speaks regularly on trauma, insomnia, mental health awareness and drug use for universities, government agencies and community organisations.

1. MD — Doctor of Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 2014
2. DrPsych — Doctorate of Psychiatry (Master of Medicine, Psychiatry), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 2024
3. Malaysian Medical Council — Registration No. 69927
4. National Specialist Register (Psychiatry) — No. 144883

• Life Member, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA)
• Deputy Organising Chairman, MMA Charity Fundraising Run

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — Beck Institute trained
2. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) — Level A certified
3. Schema Therapy — Level A & B
4. Psychopharmacological management — Master Certificate in Psychopharmacology, Neuroscience Education Institute (2024–2026)
5. Good Enough Parenting — certified; facilitator certification in progress
6. Psychodynamic psychotherapy 

1. English
2. Malay
3. Tamil

Current

• Psychiatrist, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Feb 2025 – present)

Training & Prior Posts

• Psychiatry Master Trainee, HCTM UKM & Sarawak General Hospital (Dec 2020 – Nov 2024)
• Medical Officer, Psychiatry, Sarawak General Hospital (Sep 2016 – Nov 2020)
• House Officer rotations, Sarawak General Hospital & Hospital Sentosa (2014 – 2016): Orthopaedics, Internal Medicine, O&G, Paediatrics, Surgery, Psychiatry

Teaching, Speaking & Service

• Trainer, Psychiatric Interviewing, Hospital Kudat
• Speaker, Psychological First Aid and Aggression Management
• Presenter, Southeast Asia Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Workshop
• COVID-19 Frontliner Deployment Team
• Recent talks: Management of Aggressive Patients (MOH, 2025) · Insomnia (UMS, 2025) · Self Love & Safety Issues (Klinik Kesihatan Luyang, 2025) · Mental Health Awareness (UMS, 2025) · PTSD (Pejabat Kesihatan Beaufort, 2026) · Mental Health & Drug Use (National Anti-Drug Agency, 2026)

Selected Publications

• Benjiman, L.E., Wahab, S. & Manaf, M.R.A. (2025). Adverse childhood experiences and level of self-esteem as predictors for motivation to change among adults with methamphetamine use residing in rehabilitation centers. BMC Psychology, 13, 712.
• Eric, L. & Saie, A. (2019). Internet Gaming Disorder and Psychotic Disturbance in Adolescent: A Case Report. Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 28(2), 70–75.
• Kassim, M.A., Benjiman, L.E., et al. (2022). COVID-19 Challenges in the Mental Health Unit: Dilemma, Strategies and Opportunities. In The COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experiences of HCTM. Penerbit UKM, 47–60.
• Mukhtar, F., Lionel Eric, et al. (2014). Depression, anxiety and automatic thoughts in patients with cardiovascular disease at the National Heart Institute Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences.
• Investigator, Route 6 Study (Johnson & Johnson) — Phase 3 double-blind RCT of paliperidone palmitate 6-month injection for relapse prevention in schizophrenia.

“Healing begins when you feel truly understood. Together, we’ll make sense of your story and build a healthier future.”