Mental health is an important part of overall health. To draw attention to that and advocate for mental health treatment, the World Federation for Mental Health established World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, 1992. Now, every year on Oct. 10, the federation leads a global campaign to raise awareness about mental health needs.
This year’s theme is “It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace”. According to the federation’s website, this theme “reflects the awareness of an urgent need and profound opportunity.”
“Employed adults spend more time working than any other activity during their waking hours. 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.”
Workplace risks to mental health include:
- Discrimination
- Poor/unsafe working conditions
- Limited autonomy
- Low pay or insecure jobs (frequent layoffs, etc.)
According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety result in the loss of approximately 12 billion workdays each year. People with severe mental health conditions are often excluded from work, even though meaningful work can play an important role in their recovery and participation in society.
For employers, strong mental health in the workplace is better for everyone – it can boost worker productivity and company profits, make it easier to retain employees, and improve product quality and customer service. It’s also just the right thing to do.
The World Mental Health Day theme seeks to highlight the different things that contribute to mental health at work, including workplace conditions, stress management, social inclusion, conflict resolution, professional development, and empowerment. The WHO puts special emphasis on training for managers and employers to understand how to improve and foster positive work environments.
World Mental Health Day 2024 is part of the World Mental Health Federation’s 75th anniversary campaign and accompanying initiatives. One of those initiatives is “Voices of the Workplace”, which gives you a platform to share stories, solutions and ideas on how workplaces can support mental well-being.
Another initiative called Express through Art provides three activities for you to examine your own relationship with your workplace and what needs are or are not being met. You can also download a campaign toolkit, or see a listing of events at wmhdofficial.com.
For more ideas, consider donating to your favorite mental health organization or organizing an activity at work. Johns Hopkins provides recommendations for ways to observe World Mental Health Day in the workplace here. You can also attend an event, or join the conversation online by posting to social media with the hashtag #WorldMentalHealthDay.
Therapy, medications, and proper support systems can help people manage and improve their mental health. If you are interested in therapy, we are here to help. Give us a call at 605-580-7358.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.