29 Sep LET US TALK MENTAL HEALTH
Every year in October 10th, Mental Health Day is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness on mental health issues.
On September 20th 2021, Joyce, a senior recruiter at ATC-West Healthcare came across a very impressive resume in a job application site. Through a text message, she wanted to see if the candidate would be interested in a 13-week Emergency Room, Registered Nurse (ER, RN) position at a certain medical facility in Fresno, California.
“Thank you very much for reaching out to me. I wish I could work with you. Currently, ER nursing is not what is best for my mental health at this time. Maybe someday I will consider it, until then I wish you the very best.” Brenda (not her real name) stated as she declined the offer.
The above is one of the many turn downs experienced by nursing recruiters in the United States.
Data from a report of The American Worker in Crisis, indicates that 83% of U.S. employees are experiencing Mental Health Issues.
Although we all agree that working is vital for maintaining good physical and mental health through boosting one’s self-esteem and giving confidence through purpose, mental health of employees is proving us otherwise.
Fact, depression is associated with higher rates of disability and unemployment? It is stated in a scholarly article that candidates with depression tend to complete physical job tasks about 20% slower and have reduced cognitive performance of about 35% of the time.
This is therefore a crucial topic that we need to create awareness on and sensitize it in our workplaces.
Measuring and controlling work-related stress and improving mental well-being at the workplace makes it a conducive work environment.
Creating awareness and upholding the National Mental Health Awareness Month, provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what the reality is in workplaces.
While a lot is assumed about the effects of mental health at work, companies that practice mental health tend to retain their employees and enhance better work productivity.
Depression according to Mental Health America, is one of America’s most costly illness to the tune of over $51billion.
Workplaces that promote mental health and support people with mental disorders are more likely to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and benefit from associated economic gains.
The mental health of employees is a crucial determinant in their overall health and that poor mental health and stressors at the workplace can be a contributory factor to a range of physical illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, amongst others. In addition, poor mental health can also lead to burn-out amongst employees, seriously affecting their ability to contribute meaningfully in both their personal and professional lives.
Employees face mental illness in several ways. For instance; in case of relationship problems with superiors, relationship problems with colleagues, work family conflict, high demand for performance and job insecurity.
However, they are likely to serve as constraints and stress for managers, other job stressors include uncomfortable working conditions, job overload, lack of control over the work process and sheer monotony.
The development and implementation of a workplace mental health policy and program will benefit the health of employees, increase the productivity of the company and will contribute to the well-being of the community at large.
With psychosocial intervention courses along with stress management training and health promotion interventions, workplaces will curb the mental health gap with positive impact.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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