Mental health and the workplace
World Mental Health Day (10 October) is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organisation with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.
This day, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on people’s lives worldwide. In addition, this day provides an opportunity for mental health professionals to discuss and shed light on their work, making mental health a priority worldwide. In some countries this day is part of an awareness week, such as Mental Health Week in Australia.
World Mental Health Day was celebrated for the first time on October 10, 1992, at the initiative of Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter. Up until 1994, the day had no specific theme other than general promoting mental health advocacy and educating the public.
In 1994, World Mental Health Day was celebrated with a theme for the first time at the suggestion of then Secretary General Eugene Brody. The theme was “Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World.”
World Mental Health Day is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) through raising awareness on mental health issues using its strong relationships with the Ministries of health and civil society organisations across the globe. WHO also supports with developing technical and communication material.
On World Mental Health Day 2018, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Jackie Doyle-Price as the UK’s first suicide prevention minister. This occurred while the government hosted the first ever global mental health summit.
Over the years, there have been different themes as it is with any International Day Celebration. The theme for 2024 is: It is time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace. The theme highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, and communities.
The day is about coming together to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. Talking about our mental health can help us cope better with life’s ups and downs.
There are many things that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace, from providing staff training on mental health to tackling discrimination and bullying. Importantly, a mentally healthy workplace supports open conversations about mental health.
While talking about mental health in the workplace has become more common, many people still face stigma when it comes to severe mental health problems. This means there’s more work to be done to tackle mental health stigma in the workplace.
Talking is good for your mental health. And talking about mental health is important. But starting a conversation isn’t always easy. Whether you’d like to talk to someone about how you’re feeling, or check-in with someone you care about, here are some tips that can help.
Mental stress can have a significant impact on both mental health and productivity.
Stress can lead to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and mood disorders. It can also cause mood swings, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts.
Stress can negatively impact productivity and performance in the workplace. It can lead to decreased motivation, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover rates.
Chronic stress can cause wear and tear on the body, increasing the risk of physical health problems such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and digestive issues. It can also lead to headaches, muscle tension, pain, nausea, indigestion, and dizziness.
Chronic stress suppresses the body’s immune system, making it harder to recover from illnesses.
In this part of the world and particularly in Nigeria, mental health is not given the adequate attention it deserves. To be born in Nigeria is already a mental health challenge. And then you begin to add other issues to it: lack of or non-existent infrastructure, lack of basic amenities, bad roads, insecurity, economic hardship, name them. All these affect the psyche of the people already. The issue of mental health is not given prominence in Nigeria at all, especially in the work place.
I remember a story about a man living in the United States. He worked at the World Trade Centre. On September 11, 2001, there were four coordinated operations by Islamist terrorists attack by al-Qaeda against the United States who hijacked four commercial airliners scheduled to travel from East Coast to California. The first two teams of hijackers crashed thev first two plains into the twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City, while the two remaining hijackers aimed the next two flights towards targets in or near Washington, D. C., in an attack on the nation’s capital.
The man who was said to ne a Nigerian was not at work that fateful day when the incident happened. The incident claimed the lives of 2,996 persons. When the dust had settled down, he wanted to resume work. Living in a society that values life, the dignity of person and his/her health, he was asked to see a mental health physician to evaluate him since he was going back to that environment. Trust the Naija blood in him, your guess is as good as mine. He refused to go. It was long before he started hearing the shouts and screams of the people as it happened then. His mental health was affected.
And so, in the work place, most times all wwe are concerned about is productivity and results. We want to meet deadlines, we want to break even, we want this, we want that without having recourse to the mental state of the people.
I was having a discussion with my husband recently and he stated that Nigerians are real hustlers. Some people do more than two jobs in a day -one in the morning and the other at night, others engage in side hustle all in a bid to make ends meet. All these things are legitimate. Yet, the end does not meet. We are stressed, drained, worn out, and are getting depressed. We don’t even take out the time to assess our health. Sometimes people just collapse in the office and die.
More than half the world’s population are currently in work and 15% of working-age adults live with a mental disorder. Without effective support, mental disorders and other mental health conditions can affect a person’s confidence and identity at work, capacity to work productively, absences and the ease with which to retain or gain work. Twelve billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety alone. Furthermore, people living with severe mental health conditions are largely excluded from work despite this being important for recovery.
Mental health conditions can also impact families, carers, colleagues, communities, and society at large. Depression and anxiety cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year predominantly from reduced productivity.
Everyone has the right to work and all workers have the right to a safe and healthy working environment. Work can be a protective factor for mental health, but it can also contribute to worsening mental health. Work-related mental health conditions are preventable. Much can also be done to protect and promote mental health at work and support people with mental health conditions to participate fully and equitably in work.
WHO has developed Guidelines on mental health at work. This is accompanied by the Mental health at work: Policy brief developed in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation. Together, these products aim to improve the implementation of evidence-based recommendations for mental health at work to promote mental health, prevent mental health conditions, and enable people living with mental health conditions to participate and thrive in work.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you are not alone, seek help from those who can proffer solutions. Take a break, unwind, relax and get rejuvenated.
