Today is World Mental Health Day.
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) website states that World Mental Health Day’s objective is to raise awareness of “mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.”
WHO’s website also states that this year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is Mental Health in the Workplace. Previous themes for World Mental Health Day have included “mental health and older adults” (2013), “living with schizophrenia” (2014), “dignity in mental health” (2015), and “psychological first aid” (2016).
WHO emphasises that a large proportion of a person’s time throughout their adult life is spent at work, and that a positive work environment can beneficial for mental health and the workplace as a whole.
“Our experience in the workplace is one of the factors determining our overall wellbeing. Employers and managers who put in place workplace initiatives to promote mental health and to support employees who have mental disorders see gains, not only in the health of their employees but also in their productivity at work.”
WHO’s website also states that depression and anxiety disorders are common mental disorders that have an impact on a person’s ability to work and work productively. Their website also emphasises that around the world, more than 300 million people suffer from depression and 260 million people are living with anxiety disorders, and that a recent WHO-led study estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the world economy over US$1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
More information on World Mental Health Day can be found here.
Image via Pixabay.