Message from Dévora Kestel WHO 2024
On this World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization, alongside the World Federation for Mental Health and other partners, is calling for mental health at work to be prioritized. With an estimated 60% of the global population in work, it is crucial that we take urgent and effective actions to protect mental health at work.
Work is an environment that influenced our mental health. Under good and safe conditions, work can provide purpose, connection, and stability, playing a vital role in protecting our mental health.
However, we must also recognize that unhealthy or unsafe work environments can have serious negative impacts. Mental health can be worsened by poor conditions. If left unaddressed, poor mental health can disrupt lives, reduce productivity, increase absence or turnover and create a cycle of challenges for both workers and employers.
To address these issues, we must work together to create work that prioritizes the protection of mental health. This means preventing risks to mental health, training managers to protect the mental health of their supervisees, and ensuring that workers with mental health conditions are well supported to thrive and participate at work. Governments, employers and labour organizations all have a role to play in preventing exposure to risks to mental health and protecting and promoting mental health at work. By taking these vital steps, we can create environments where mental health is prioritized, enabling both individuals and organizations to thrive.
Let us also focus on tackling the stigma that surrounds mental health at work. People living with a mental health condition should be able to participate in work without fear of discrimination or negative consequences. By making mental health a priority at work, we not only improve individual lives but also strengthen the fabric of our societies and economies. On this World Mental Health Day, let us commit to building work environments where everyone can thrive.
Dévora Kestel
Director
Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use dept