World Mental Health Day: How are you doing means a bit more today.

October 10th, 2024 is World Mental Health Day. Mental health is important all year round, but today is a day to shine a spotlight and foster conversation on the topic. This year, the World Health Organization (WHO), has selected to discuss mental health at places of work. They have tasked employers and employees to think about and recognize the following:

Mental Health and work are closely linked

-       A support work environment fosters positive mental health. A poor working environment does the opposite, harming mental health and leading to a reduction in job satisfaction and productivity.

Workers face risks to mental health

-       A work environment can be a host to either negative and/or positive influences on mental health.

Impact on individuals

-       A lack of support for an individual's mental health can affect their work life and work outcomes.

The wider impact on work and society

-       A lack of support for an individual’s mental health at work can trickle into other aspects of life inside and outside of work.

Stigma creates barriers to employment

-       Mental Health stigma and discrimination can prevent someone from seeking help, or getting a job. Employers and employees can prevent this through raising awareness, providing mental health training, and supporting employees who suffer from mental health.

Supporting workers to participate and thrive in work

-       Employers should provide reasonable accommodations for those with mental health conditions. Providing support through hybrid models or regular times and spaces for employees to step away are some ideas.

Training managers to support mental health

-       Employers should provide their managers/management team with training to recognize and address stressors in the workplace. As well as ways to advocate and provide support for employees.

Government action and collaboration are essential

-       Government, employers, and representative organizations must come together to create policies supporting and benefiting those with mental health conditions.

Taking care of your own mental health

-       Although companies and the government are primarily in charge when it comes to promoting and protecting mental health in the workplace, you can also take the steps to learn how to improve your mental health while at work. This could entail learning how to manage stress better, or having a weekly chat with a supervisor on how things are going at work and what they can do to continue to support you.

Let’s commit to companies, government, and individuals recognizing, understanding, and supporting mental health issues at work. This way we can build a stronger and brighter tomorrow together. So, be kind to yourself and others. Ask for support from your employers when you need it. Check in on your friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else important to you - not just today, but in the future too.

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