World Mental Health Day 2017 : Mental health in the workplace

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the aim of raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of better health on this domain. This year’s theme is “Mental health in the workplace.”

On a global level, WHO estimates that 10% of the workforce has already been absent from work because of depression. There is an average loss of 36 working days when an employee is depressed and in addition, the productivity of such a person tends to drop significantly, as he or she faces difficulty in concentrating and making decisions. In this context, depression has an impact on the economic development of the country.

WHO representative in Mauritius, Laurent Musango, explains that work-related stress costs the global society billions of dollars directly or indirectly every year. The Ministry of Health and Quality of Life reports an increase in the number of patients treated for mental disorders related to work stress in the country for some years now.

Dr Sandya Beedassy, a psychiatrist at Victoria Hospital, Quatre Bornes, reveals that there has not been any specific study to measure the extent of this trend but nevertheless, she says that excessive pressure at work leads to stress and other health concerns including mental disorders.

However, the trend in the professional world shows that pressure at work is unlikely to decrease. Manager of Friends in Hope, Neetysha Sawoky, states that we live in a competitive world and we expect employees to be productive. Sometimes, unfortunately we forget that we are dealing with human beings.

No consideration for psychological disorders

Furthermore, in many countries, the law requires employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. This is understood to include risk management related to both stress and occupational stress. But according to experts from the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, there is still a long way to go. “In practice, there is a tendency to neglect psychological disorders,” says Dr. Sandya Beedassy.

Another finding of the Ministry of Health is that a number of employees with mental disorders are reluctant to seek treatment because of workplace constraints but also because of stigma. This phenomenon is global, according to the WHO, which estimates that at least 50% of people suffering from depression are not treated. “In the African region, lack of information and cultural barriers are major hurdles that deter people from seeking treatment. The social acceptance of people suffering from mental illness has made little progress over the past 20 years,” says Dr. Laurent Musango.

The WHO representative in Mauritius pointed out that there were many economic arguments in favor of combating stigmatization by the employer, but also investment in programs to promote mental health, prevention and treatment in the workplace. He added that depression is preventable and treatable when it is diagnosed at an early stage and that up to 80% of the people treated generally experience an improvement in their mental health within four to six weeks.

Economic and health policies needed

Neetysha Sawoky is of the view that “an economic model that advocates the overall development and well-being of the employee must also be sought.” In the meantime, she said, a more friendly professional setting, a listening service within the company and facilitating access to care can be a first step.

As for Dr. Musango, he said that many employers are developing policies to promote a healthy workforce without sharing a common vision. According to him, World Mental Health Day is an ideal opportunity to initiate dialogue on the issue of mental health in the workplace in order to promote the best practices, limit negative attitudes and strengthen the power to “action of individuals.” “Most workers spend over 60% of their waking hours at work, which places mental health in the workplace at the heart of everyday social interactions. Employees can take action to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health problem and engage in prevention and exchanges on this issue,” he said.