'Prioritize mental health in workplaces'

Kathmandu, Oct 10: The World Mental Health Day is being observed across the global today. 'It’s Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace' is the theme for this year.     

Giving a message on this occasion, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres underlined the need for everyone's access to quality mental health services.     

"Everyone, both in the workplace and beyond, should have the knowledge and resources to prioritise mental health, as well as access to quality mental health services without stigma or barriers," he said, adding that bigger challenges surfaced after the COVID-19 in terms of protection of mental health of the employees.     

"Since the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new age of teleworking, the boundaries between home and work are increasingly dissolving, creating even greater challenges for protecting the mental health of employees," he reminded.     

The global leader has urged for a proper balance between work and well-being, arguing, "Work is important for well-being; but well-being is also important for work." He further said employees witness moral boost once the employers pay heed to the risks of their mental health. It also results in reduction of absenteeism, and increase in employee engagement and productivity, that paves way for robust businesses and our economies, Gutterres underlined.     

According to him, safe and healthy workplaces are prerequisite to sense of purpose, connection and stability. "Oppressive or chaotic work environments can take a heavy toll on the mental health of those who work there," he viewed, reminding the biting reality that roughly one in every eight people is living with a mental disorder around in the world.     

"On this World Mental Health Day, and every day, let us remember that there is no health without mental health. Let us commit to creating and maintaining safe, healthy work environments where people can flourish," he called.     

Meanwhile, the theme for this year was announced in April earlier this year. While announcing the theme, President of the World Federation of Mental Health, Tsuyoshi Akiyama, had said, "Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are pervasive in workplaces globally, impacting productivity, attendance, and overall performance."     

He had also reminded the warning of the World Health Organization that if the mental health was left ignored and untreated, it could cause hefty cost of some 1 trillion US Dollars annually.(RSS)