Psychiatrist urges employers to prioritise mental health of workers

 

A Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Taiwo Oduguwa, has canvassed the need for the corporate organisations to prioritise mental health plans in the workplaces.

Oduguwa, made the assertion at a lecture organised the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital Yaba, to commemorate the  2024 World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on Thursday in Lagos.

The 2024 WMHD has the theme: “It is Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace”.

The day is celebrated annually on Oct. 10, to raise awareness about mental health around the world and to mobilise efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues.

She highlighted the crucial role of mental health to overall wellbeing, saying that good health encompassed physical, mental, social, spiritual, and financial aspects; going beyond the mere absence of diseases or infirmity.

Oduguwa, a guest speaker at the event, said that the managers and business leaders needed to always look out for the total wellbeing of their subordinates and employees.

According to her, organisations and business managers should develop wellness and resilience plans to safeguard mental health, stressing the need for provision platforms where workers can speak out on issues bordering them and also seek help.

She listed risks to mental health at workplace to include violence, discrimination, inadequate pay, long unsocial hours, lack of control over workload, poor work-life balance and lack of support among others.

“Prioritising mental health is not only beneficial to the workers, but also for the growth and development of organisations.

“The workplace has positive impacts on well-being.

“Stable mental health increases productivity and creates room for development.

“Both public and private organisations must have programmes that promotes mental health well-being.

“There must be pace management, team work, support and right workplace services,” she said.

Earlier, the Medical Director of the institution, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, said that one in every six people experienced mental health challenges in the workplace.

Owoeye said that paying attention to mental health at workplace was necessary to prevent workers from coming down with mental health conditions, as prevention was cheaper and better than cure.

According to him, the importance of mental health could not be overemphasised, saying that there was no health without mental health.

The Head, Clinical Services of the hospital, Dr Stephen Oluwaniyi, said that safeguarding mental health had become more crucial for individuals in Nigeria due to the difficulties posed by the current state of the economy.

Oluwaniyi, also a Consultant Psychiatrist, said that during challenging situations, therapy or counseling could offer a lot of helpful support and direction.

He said: “Prioritising our mental health during these difficult times is just as important as our physical health.

“Scheduling time for enjoyable activities and relaxation techniques can offer encouragement in the face of uncertainty.

“These routines can involve physical activities, hobbies, going outside for vacation, or even meditation,” he said.

He advised that people could seek support or ask for assistance from friends, family or mental health professionals if the need arises.

According to him, people should avoid keeping to themselves when facing challenging times, saying that this could lead to suicide.

He identified poverty and frustration as the main causes of suicide, regretting that some people in difficult economic situations had considered suicide rather than speaking out or seeking for help.

“There is need for people to share their worries with others, seek for help rather than bottling them up to avoid depression.

“Too much of worry and depression can push one to commit suicide.

“This is because there are those who think they cannot make it in life due to past failure, disappointment or poverty,” he said.