With an estimated 60 per cent of the global population in some form of employment, addressing mental health at work has become imperative. Safe and inclusive work environments can promote mental well-being, whereas poor working conditions can result in significant mental health risks.

A positive and supportive work environment is critical for fostering mental well-being and providing employees with a sense of purpose, stability, and job satisfaction.

Read in Hindi: कार्यस्थल पर मानसिक स्वास्थ्य को ऐसे दें बढ़ावा...

On the other hand, adverse working conditions can negatively affect mental health, lowering productivity and morale. Employees tend to be more motivated in an inclusive and respectful workplace. Conversely, stress, discrimination, abuse, and micromanagement can create a hostile environment that diminishes motivation and job satisfaction.

Employees face various risks to their mental health, such as poor working conditions, discrimination, and limited autonomy. Jobs that are low-paid or insecure often come with insufficient protections, making workers in these roles more vulnerable to psychosocial risks, which can further impact their overall well-being.

Without adequate support, individuals dealing with mental health challenges can experience diminished self-confidence, reduced enjoyment at work, and frequent absences. The effects can extend beyond the workplace, impacting the ability to find or maintain employment. These challenges also affect family members and caregivers, adding further stress to their lives.

Mental health issues in the workplace are not isolated to individual workers; they have a wider societal impact. Poor mental health can result in reduced performance, absenteeism, and higher staff turnover. Globally, depression and anxiety alone contribute to the loss of approximately 12 billion workdays each year, underscoring the economic and social consequences of untreated mental health conditions.

The stigma surrounding mental health is a significant barrier that prevents individuals from seeking help and maintaining employment. Workplace discrimination against those with mental health conditions can hinder their ability to thrive. Awareness programs, training, and engagement with employees who have mental health conditions can contribute to more inclusive, supportive work environments that break down these barriers.

Employers play a crucial role in ensuring that workers with mental health conditions can succeed in the workplace. Reasonable accommodations, such as regular supportive meetings, scheduled breaks, and a gradual reintroduction to tasks, help employees manage their conditions and stay productive. Offering simple supports like medication storage can also make a significant difference.

Employers should invest in training for managers to identify and address mental health stressors in the workplace. Trained managers are better equipped to foster a positive and supportive work environment, which is key to reducing stress and promoting mental well-being among staff.

For meaningful change, governments, employers, and representative organizations must collaborate on creating policies that prevent mental health risks and promote mental well-being. Such efforts should aim to create workplaces where mental health is prioritized, and protective measures are in place for employees.

While governments and employers are responsible for promoting mental health at work, individuals can also take steps to support their well-being. Learning stress management techniques and staying mindful of changes in mental health are important. If necessary, reaching out to a trusted person or mental health professional can provide essential support.

India, home to one of the largest populations in the world, faces unique challenges in addressing mental health issues. With a history of underfunded mental health services and significant stigma surrounding mental illness, the country has taken significant steps toward improving mental health care infrastructure and policies.

For the first time, the Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled in Parliament on July 22, talked about mental health, its significance and implications on policy recommendations. Acknowledging mental health as a principally impactful driver of individual and national development, the Survey notes that as per the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16, 10.6 per cent of adults in India suffered from mental disorders while the treatment gap for mental disorders ranged between 70 per cent and 92 per cent for different disorders.

Further, the prevalence of mental morbidity was higher in urban metro regions (13.5 per cent) as compared to rural areas (6.9 per cent) and urban non-metro areas (4.3 per cent). Citing NCERT’s Mental Health and Well-being of School Students Survey, the Survey highlights an increasing prevalence of poor mental health among adolescents exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 11 per cent of students reported as feeling anxious, 14 per cent as feeling extreme emotion and 43 per cent experiencing mood swings.

The survey points out that at an aggregate economic level, mental health disorders are associated with significant productivity losses due to absenteeism, decreased productivity, disability, increased healthcare costs, etc. There is also evidence of poverty affecting the risk of mental health via stressful living conditions, financial instability, and a lack of opportunities for upward mobility, which contribute to heightened psychological distress.

With mental health and work being so closely linked, governments, employers, and stakeholders need to take action to create safe, inclusive, and supportive environments where mental well-being can thrive. Global initiatives, driven by organizations like WHO and WFMH, are making progress, but there is still much work to be done in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and improving access to mental health services.

India’s recent efforts to address mental health challenges through policies, surveys, and programs are commendable. By increasing mental health resources and integrating services into primary healthcare, India is making strides toward reducing the treatment gap and addressing the country’s mental health burden. As these efforts continue, the focus must remain on creating inclusive systems that enable individuals to thrive both at work and in society.

In the coming years, continued collaboration between governments, organizations, and individuals is essential to ensure that mental health care is accessible, effective, and free from stigma. This will help create a future where mental health is recognized as a fundamental right, and everyone can participate fully in both work and life.