Mental health experts have called upon employers to prioritise the provision of mental health care services in the workplace by introducing supporting structures for the workforce, trainings of the management on mental health and by encouraging self-care for the employees.
Anxiety disorders and depression have been pointed to be major mental health disorders with the World Health Organization (WHO) revealing that in 2019, 280 million people were living with depression, including 23 million children and adolescents,1 in every 8 people, or 970 million people around the world were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depressive disorders the most common and 301 million people were living with an anxiety disorder including 58 million children and adolescents.
Speaking during the World Mental health commemoration, Young People Mental Health Trust (YO-PETALTH) Founder and Executive Secretary Tawanda Murepa expressed that unattended mental health challenges for the workforce costs companies thousands of dollars due to loss of productivity and poor service delivery.
“The reality is that in many companies there are no mental health personnel which automatically mean that the workforce is struggling with mental health disorders. They might be physically present at work but their minds are absent a situation which lead to erroneous work hence loss of productivity.
“So with this year’s theme, employers should view mental health with a different perspective and embrace an environment which offers mental health relief for the workforce. It is high time that employers incorporate mental health experts as well,” said Murepa.
One of the mental health experts Linos Muvhu called for the introduction of mental health supportive structures for the workforce and upscaling of mental health awareness across all spheres.
“World Mental Health Day serves as an essential reminder of the importance of mental well-being for individuals and communities alike. This year’s official theme ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’ emphasizes the need for mental health awareness, access to care and the reduction of stigma surrounding mental health issues.
“Actions needed in the workplace include the promotion of open dialogues by encouraging employees to speak openly about mental health without fear of judgment, regular check-ins and mental health days can create a supportive atmosphere. Also employers should provide resources by ensuring access to mental health resources such as counseling services, workshops and stress management programmes ,this can help employees feel supported and valued.
“More importantly training of more mental health care professional and management can equip managers with knowledge to recognize mental health issues and to respond appropriately and this can foster a culture of understanding and empathy,”he said
This year’s World Mental Health Day commemorations have been running under the theme “It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace”
