Each year, October 10th to be precise, the World Health Organization (WHO) joins the global community to mark World Mental Health Day aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues worldwide and mobilizing efforts to support mental well-being.
This year’s celebration has the theme, “It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace,” underscores the crucial role of work in shaping our lives.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti in her speech to mark this years celebration in Abuja described the theme as appropriate which reminds everyone on the essence of having good environment which not only provides structure and purpose, but also fosters social connections, giving individuals a sense of personal value and identity.
She lamented that most workplaces has remained sources of stress, negatively affecting both physical and mental health with factors such as discrimination, poor working conditions, being underpaid or undervalued, harassment, bullying, and lack of control as factors that can all contribute to mental health challenges at work including low-paid or insecure jobs
She stated further” mental health issues leading to depression and anxiety result in the loss of approximately 12 billion workdays globally each year, costing the global economy around $1 trillion. Additionally, people with severe mental health conditions are often excluded from employment or face inequality and stigma in the workplace.
“Despite these challenges, only 8 of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region reported having mental health promotion programs in workplaces by 2020, and only 3 had active collaborations between mental health services and labour departments.
She however called on nations to embark on urgent action to protect, promote, and support mental health in the workplace adding that WHO, through its guidelines on mental health at work and in collaboration with the International Labor Organization, recommends key actions for governments, employers, and other stakeholders.
“These key actions include managing workplace psychosocial risks, promoting mental health through training, supporting employees with mental health conditions, and creating work environments conducive to well-being.
She however harp on the need for governments to review and implement employment and health policies that ensure parity between mental and physical health in collaboration with workers’ organizations, establish pathways between health, social, and employment services to facilitate supported employment and return-to-work programs as well as build capacity in primary care, occupational health, and mental health services to address mental health conditions at work among other needed actions.
“As we celebrate World Mental Health Day, let’s commit to investing in mental health in the workplace—because investing in people is the best investment any organization can make. A mentally healthy workforce is engaged, innovative, motivated, and productive, contributing to the success of any organization.
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