October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and the 2024 theme is ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace.’
Last month, The Dallas Express reported the 2024 Health Service Report findings, ranking mental health as the most prominent health issue across 31 countries, including the United States.
As such, the 2024 global campaign of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) focused on where most employed adults spend most of their waking hours: working.
“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,” stated António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General.
“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,” added Guterres.
Established in 1948, the WFMH has a lasting mission “to promote the advancement of mental health awareness, prevention of mental disorders, advocacy, and best practice recovery focused interventions worldwide.”
WFMH is striving to involve a worldwide audience in emphasizing the crucial importance of mental health in professional settings and advocating for work environments that prioritize, safeguard, and encourage mental well-being.
“In a myriad ways, and at its best, work can provide a livelihood and be a source of meaning, purpose, and joy. However, for too many people, work falls far short of its potential, failing to enhance our lives and detracting from our mental health and well-being in ways that result in excessive distress and mental ill health,” stated Tsuyoshi Akiyama, WFMH President.
“The bidirectional relationship between mental health and the workplace is crucial to understand. Even the healthiest employees can suffer physically and mentally in an unhealthy work environment,” added Professor Gabriel Ivbijaro MBE JP, WFMH Secretary-General.
Suggestions for creating a positive work environment can include providing managers with training to support and encourage health and well-being, expanding employees’ choices regarding their work environment, schedule, and methods, reviewing health insurance policies with an emphasis on employee mental health, and listening to your employees’ needs and utilizing their input to make improvements.