Why mental health should be prioritized in workplaces- Experts

Medical experts say workplace stress contributes to mental health disorders among the populace in the country.

They identified discrimination, stigma, harassment, poor working conditions among others as factors that affect mental health in the workplace

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day, marked recently “It is time to prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace”

The WHO Representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo said   in 2019, 15% of working age adults were estimated to have a mental disorder at any point in time.

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He said  out of this number  more than 300 million people were living with anxiety, 1.3 million people living with depression, 1.64 million people living with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and 703,000 people died by suicide globally.

He said, “Many of these individuals were of working-age. The most prevalent mental health conditions (i.e., common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety).”

He said people living with severe mental health conditions – including psychosocial disabilities (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) are, for reasons such as stigma and discrimination, largely excluded from work even though their participation in economic activities is important for their recovery.

He said working people, like all people, deserve an inherent right to the highest attainable standard of mental health at work, regardless of theft type of employment, and that people living with mental health conditions have a right to access, participate and thrive in work.

He said, “I enjoin us all to work towards preventing work-related mental health conditions, protect and promote mental health at work, support workers with mental health conditions and create an enabling environment to improve mental health at work. Together, we can ensure that everyone can thrive at work and in life. Let’s all take action today for a healthier future.”

The president of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Prof.  Taiwo James Obindo, said one in four Nigerians suffer from mental illness.

He said while there is dearth of data on the burden of workplace stress in Nigeria, he said the mental wellbeing of an average worker needs to be given attention.

He said, “The environment in which people work needs to be looked into. There are so many abuses in the workplace that tend to impinge on the mental wellbeing of workers, such as verbal abuse, emotional abuse at work, and bullying at work. There is a need to pay attention to them and there are so many other abuses.

Even the aesthetics of the environment where one works also adds to the wellbeing of the individual.”

He decried the practice of employers not employing people who had suffered from mental illness saying, “One of the questions they ask is past history of mental illness, family history of mental illness. What has that  to do with employment, particularly when somebody is receiving care, because somebody had a mental illness four years ago, does not mean he still has it, and the fact that somebody does not presently have does not mean within a year of being employed, he will not develop a mental health condition.”

He added that the Mental Health Act has stipulations against discrimination in the workplace.

He said, “The Act stipulates that people should not be discriminated against in the workplace, and if someone developed a mental health condition at a workplace, he or she should not be sacked or stigmatised. According to that act, it is the responsibility of the employers to assist the person to seek appropriate help.”

He enjoined employers to make work environments conducive for their employees.

The founder of Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative and Convener of the Association of mental health reform organisations in Africa, Ameh Zion Abba, said mental health in the workplace has an impact on productivity and national development.

He called on employers to prioritize mental health and well-being in their workplaces.

He said employers in the public and private sector should ensure access to healthcare at the workplaces including mental health checks. It is their responsibility (as being enshrined in the Act) to ensure the wellbeing of their staff and the wellbeing at the workplace.

“Mental health and well-being enhances productivity and increased revenue for the organizations,” he added.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate has also enjoined employers in the public and private sectors of the country to provide requisite resources, and create a supportive culture that improves mental health in the workplace.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom, during the commemoration of the World Mental Health Day, he said the workplace plays a significant role in shaping mental health, adding that unfortunately, stigma, stress, and burnout often prevail.

He also said the ministry is committed to prioritising the implementation of the mental health legislation and policy in Nigeria.

The minister said the 2024 World Mental Health Day highlights various aspects of mental health at work, from workplace conditions and stress management to the importance of social inclusion and empowerment.

He said, “The goal is clear: to champion mental health in the workplace and build best practices that create cultures where workers have the potential to contribute productively and thrive. Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are pervasive in workplaces globally, impacting productivity, attendance, and overall performance. When left untreated, the staggering economic cost is estimated at US$1 trillion annually according to WHO.”