KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health celebrated World Mental Health Day, which falls on Thursday and is celebrated by the World Health Organization this year under the slogan "mental health in the workplace”, which is concerned with highlighting the essential link between mental health and work. The ministry’s spokesman, Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad, said in his speech during the ceremony held at the Kuwait Center for Mental Health that one of the objectives of the World Mental Health Day is to confront and overcome the societal stigma around mental illnesses and disorders.
Dr Al-Sanad pointed out that the societal stigma makes it difficult for patients to participate in society and perhaps prevents them from reaching out for treatment at the right place and time and from the appropriate specialists.
He pointed out that mental health disorders have become a significant burden across the world. Depression is the most prevalent mental health issue, with more than 300 million people around the world suffering from it. About 264 million people around the world suffer from anxiety.
He pointed to the role of the Kuwait Center for Mental Health, not only at the level of treatment, but also at the preventive level. He also noted the presence of a mental health clinic in each of the public hospitals and a primary mental health clinic in 70 primary health care centers out of 120 centers.
Director of the Kuwait Center for Mental Health Dr Kholoud Al-Ali said in her speech that a safe healthy work environment protects employees’ mental health and enhances productivity and creativity. Dr Al-Ali explained that unhealthy conditions can affect employees’ mental health, quality of life and productivity. She said discrimination, excessive workloads, understaffed working environments, lack of clarity of the job role, inadequate health and safety policy, job insecurity and poor investment in career development are some of the issues.
"With 60 percent of the world’s population working, clear strategies and concrete action are needed to create a working environment that prevents the risks of mental health conditions and provides protection and support by harnessing efforts and investing resources in evidence-based approaches and interventions in the workplace that ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive at work,” she said.
She explained that workplace health promotion strategies require creating awareness of mental health in the workplace through educational resources and workshops, encouraging effective communication, creating a culture of open dialogue, building positive relationships between colleagues, and establishing a mental health policy or guide in work environments.
Dr Al-Ali said that although governments and employers have the primary responsibility to protect and promote mental health in the workplace, "you can take steps to support psychological well-being by developing stress management techniques, staying curious, learning new things and participating in outdoor and social activities.”— KUNA