What Does WHO Says About Mental Health At Work

Mental health in the workplace has become an increasingly pressing issue in today’s fast-paced, competitive, and demanding work environments. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides crucial insights into this area, emphasizing that decent work is beneficial for mental health, while poor working conditions can negatively impact mental well-being. As the global workforce continues to evolve, it is essential to prioritize mental health to promote a healthy, productive, and supportive work environment.

Key Facts and Statistics

1. The Importance of Decent Work: Decent work plays a significant role in supporting good mental health. It offers individuals a sense of purpose, achievement, and social inclusion, all of which are essential for mental well-being. Moreover, decent work environments foster positive relationships, promote confidence, and help build structured routines.
2. The Toll of Poor Work Conditions: Poor working environments, characterized by excessive workloads, job insecurity, discrimination, and inequality, pose a significant risk to mental health. WHO reports that 15% of working-age adults had a mental disorder in 2019, with depression and anxiety alone costing the global economy an estimated $1 trillion annually due to lost productivity. Additionally, around 12 billion working days are lost each year to these mental health conditions.
3. Global Workforce in Numbers: Nearly 60% of the world’s population is engaged in some form of work, and for people with mental health conditions, decent work can play a pivotal role in recovery and social reintegration. Safe and supportive working environments contribute to minimizing workplace conflicts, improving staff retention, and enhancing productivity.

Understanding Mental Health Risks at Work

Mental health risks in the workplace, often referred to as psychosocial risks, can be linked to various factors, such as job content, workload, and the physical or organizational conditions of the work environment. These risks can manifest in multiple ways, including:

• Underutilization of Skills: When employees feel their skills are underused or they are overqualified for their role, it can lead to feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction.
• Excessive Workloads: Overwork, long hours, or being understaffed can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression. Coupled with unsocial or inflexible working hours, these factors contribute to an unhealthy work-life balance, further deteriorating mental health.
• Lack of Control and Support: Employees who lack control over their job design or workload, or who receive limited support from colleagues and supervisors, are at increased risk of developing mental health problems. An organizational culture that tolerates bullying, harassment, or violence can exacerbate these risks.
• Job Insecurity: Uncertainty about job security, inadequate pay, or a lack of investment in career development can lead to feelings of instability, further contributing to poor mental health. Additionally, workers in the informal economy, which comprises over half of the global workforce, are particularly vulnerable. These individuals often work in unsafe conditions, face discrimination, and lack access to social protections.

Certain industries are more prone to mental health risks than others. For example, healthcare, emergency, and humanitarian workers are often exposed to traumatic events, which can have long-lasting psychological effects. Moreover, economic recessions, public health emergencies, or other global crises can compound these risks, leading to widespread job loss, financial instability, and unemployment.

Actions to Improve Mental Health at Work

Governments, employers, and other key stakeholders play a crucial role in promoting mental health in the workplace. There are three primary areas of focus for action: preventing work-related mental health conditions, protecting and promoting mental health, and supporting workers with mental health conditions.

1. Prevent Work-Related Mental Health Conditions

Preventing mental health conditions at work involves managing psychosocial risks and improving the overall work environment. Employers can implement organizational interventions designed to assess and mitigate workplace risks. Some effective strategies include:

• Providing flexible work arrangements, such as the option for remote work or flexible hours, to accommodate individual needs.
• Implementing robust policies and frameworks to address violence, harassment, and bullying at work.
• Creating a culture that promotes inclusivity, open communication, and a healthy work-life balance.

These measures can reduce workplace stressors and foster a healthier work environment, improving employee satisfaction and overall mental well-being.

2. Protect and Promote Mental Health

Protecting and promoting mental health in the workplace requires building awareness and training employees and supervisors to recognize and respond to mental health conditions. WHO recommends the following strategies:

• Manager Training: Equip managers with the skills to identify signs of emotional distress and mental health concerns in their supervisees. Training should focus on building interpersonal skills, open communication, active listening, and understanding how job stressors affect mental health.
• Mental Health Literacy: Offering training to all employees to increase their understanding of mental health can help reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek support when needed. A workplace culture that values mental health awareness fosters an environment where employees feel safe discussing their concerns.
• Stress Management Interventions: Providing opportunities for employees to develop skills to manage stress, such as through psychosocial interventions, mindfulness programs, or physical activities, can help reduce the onset of mental health symptoms.

3. Support Workers with Mental Health Conditions

Workers living with mental health conditions have the right to participate in work fully and fairly. Several interventions can help individuals with mental health conditions thrive in the workplace:

• Reasonable Accommodations: Adapting the work environment to meet the needs of individuals with mental health conditions is essential. Examples include offering flexible work hours, modifying assignments, or providing extra time to complete tasks.
• Return-to-Work Programs: These programs combine ongoing clinical care with reasonable workplace accommodations to support employees returning to work after an absence due to mental health issues.
• Supported Employment Initiatives: These initiatives provide vocational support to help individuals with severe mental health conditions gain and maintain employment.

Creating an Enabling Environment for Change

Governments, employers, and key stakeholders must work together to create an enabling environment that promotes mental health at work. This requires:

• Strong Leadership and Commitment: Integrating mental health into workplace policies and dedicating sufficient funds and resources to support mental health initiatives is crucial.
• Protecting Workers’ Rights: Aligning employment laws with international human rights standards ensures that workers with mental health conditions are protected from discrimination.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Embedding mental health considerations into existing occupational safety and health systems ensures a holistic approach to workplace well-being.
• Participation of Workers: Meaningful involvement of workers, their representatives, and people with lived experiences of mental health conditions in decision-making processes helps create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.

By taking these steps, workplaces can become more inclusive, supportive, and conducive to mental well-being, benefiting both employees and employers alike.