Mumbai: This year’s World Mental Health Day topic is Mental Health at Work, emphasising the vital link between mental health and the workplace.
With an alarming 60% of the global workforce affected by mental health issues, the need to address mental health at work is not just critical, but urgent. Safe and inclusive work environments can significantly improve mental well-being, but inadequate working conditions pose serious mental health hazards that cannot be ignored.
The subject highlights the necessity of adopting collective action to ensure that workplaces promote mental health, safeguard against damage, and support individuals who require assistance.
Policy Recommendations by Economic Survey 2023-24
For the first time, the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, tabled the Economic Survey 2023-24 in Parliament on July 22, 2024, to debate mental health, its significance, and policy recommendations.
Recognising mental health as a key driver of individual and national development, the Survey notes that, according to the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16, 10.6% of adults in India suffered from mental disorders, with treatment gaps ranging from 70% to 92% for various disorders.
Furthermore, urban metro regions had a greater prevalence of mental illness (13.5%) than rural areas (6.9%) or urban non-metro areas (4.3%). According to NCERT’s Mental Health and Well-being of School Students Survey, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of poor mental health among adolescents, with 11% reporting anxiety, 14% reporting extreme emotion, and 43% experiencing mood swings.
The poll reveals a stark reality-mental health issues are not just a personal struggle, but a significant cause of productivity losses at the aggregate economic level. Absenteeism, decreased production, impairment, increased healthcare expenditures, and more are all direct consequences of mental health issues. This underlines the economic importance of addressing mental health in the workplace.
Poverty has also been shown to increase the likelihood of mental health problems due to stressful living conditions, financial instability, and a lack of opportunity for upward mobility, all of which contribute to increased psychological distress.
WHO unites with partners to highlight mental health at workplace?
This World Mental Health Day, WHO is collaborating with partners to emphasise the critical link between mental health and work. Working in a safe, healthy atmosphere can benefit one’s mental health. Stigma, discrimination, and exposure to dangers such as harassment and other poor working circumstances can all have a negative impact on mental health, overall quality of life, and, as a result, participation or productivity at work. With 60% of the world’s population working, immediate action is required to guarantee that employment prevents mental health hazards while also protecting and supporting mental health at work.
It’s crucial that governments, employers, worker and employer associations, and other parties responsible for workers’ health and safety come together in a united front to enhance mental health at work. By actively involving workers and their representatives, as well as those with lived experience of mental health disorders, in workplace mental health initiatives, we can make a significant difference. Investing in evidence-based approaches and treatments at work is not just a financial commitment, but a commitment to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive at work and in life. Let’s unite and take action now to ensure a healthier future for all.
The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), a global mental health advocacy organisation, established World Mental Health Day on October 10 of each year in 1992. This global observance aims to raise awareness about mental health concerns and rally support for mental health services around the world. Over the years, the day has evolved into an important venue for governments, organisations, and individuals to work on initiatives that achieve long-term change in mental health treatment. The growing acknowledgement of mental health’s enormous impact on individuals, families, and communities reinforces the significance of World Mental Health Day.
For more updates Subscribe to Media Eye News
Image Credit: WHO
