INGUTSHENI Hospital in Bulawayo on Thursday held a belated World Mental Health day through a campaign walk promoting mental health in workplaces amid concerns that poor working conditions at various workplaces was contributing to mental health problems faced in the country.
This development came after the realisation that mental health and work are closely linked; posing that a supportive work environment fosters mental health, prioritising purpose and stability.
Staff at Ingutsheni, Donnington Police Station, Proton Bakeries and Henry Low Primary School drum majorettes in Bulawayo participated in a walk from the police station to the hospital, spreading the word of “prioritising mental health and workplaces”, as its theme.
Ingutsheni Hospital chief executive officer Nemache Mawere, during his keynote address, said poor working conditions harm mental well-being, reducing productivity.
“Poor work conditions can harm mental well-being, reducing job satisfaction and productivity. At the workplace, there are various risks which workers face from the time of recruitment, periodical screening and termination of work,” he said.
“These include discrimination, an arduous work environment which is not ergonomically friendly, limited autonomy, low salary insecure jobs, inadequate personal protective equipment and other disadvantages which make workers vulnerable.”
Mawere said these impact workers from an individual, family and on to community level as their self-confidence drops, with work no longer enjoyable, curtailing the ability to perform to required standards.
The Ingutsheni boss further highlighted the symptoms of workers deemed mentally unwell in their workplaces.
- Africa has world's highest suicide rates - WHO
- Experts bemoan shortage of mental healthcare professionals
- Drug induced mental health cases overwhelm ZPCS institutions
- MAYO commemorates World Mental Health Day
Keep Reading
“Stigma and discrimination is rife at the workplace for those deemed mentally unwell, they are given less arduous work, away from interface with clients; the workers become frustrated and there are conflicts in the workplace, others resign and seek work in the secondary labour market (self-employment and informal jobs),” Mawere said.
The chief executive officer said solutions that could help in fostering a healthier and more inclusive work environment can be put in place to raise awareness, train and engage people living with mental illness.
“We can also support workers to participate and thrive at work. These supports include provisions of accommodation, supportive meetings, and scheduled frequent breaks reintegration after absence from work. Line managers must support their teams who are going through challenges (social, mental and physical) so that they are able to improve the output,” Mawere said.
“The government, employers and workers representatives must work together to create policies that prevent mental health risks, promote well-being and build supportive workplaces where mental health is prioritised.”
Meanwhile, Bulawayo Retired Nurses Fellowship donated balls and mind games boards for the patients’ games.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day, an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
