Local employees have been urged to boost mental health programmes in their workplaces since it is crucial for job performance and overall well-being for everyone including the surrounding communities.
A psychologist based in Nakuru city, Mrs Dorcas Njuguna said the Covid-19 pandemic more than any other disease brought to the forefront the easy and now appreciated mental health in all spheres of human lifestyles.
Speaking today at a workshop in a Nakuru hotel, she said mental health has the capacity to adversely affect productivity, leading to low performance and hence increasing losses for Businesses.
Mrs Njuguna said one of the obstacles to addressing mental health at the workplace was stigma that she noted prevents the affected employees from opening up, making it difficult for employers to effectively address the issues.
The psychologist appealed to all employers to implement mental health awareness
programmes to reduce stigma and increase understanding of the issues so as to provide employees with the necessary knowledge and resources to manage their conditions.
Mrs Njuguna noted that organisations that are investing in mental health support for their workers are the ones who will reap the rewards of having increased worker morale and staff motivation, as well as reduced absenteeism.
Also, she said whilst workplaces may not seem like a haven to open up and talk about personal issues, organisations should aim to capitalise on the fact that they offer a discreet, unbiased, and neutral space for workers.
However, she noted that creating a health-friendly workplace starts from the top of the organisation, and committed leadership has the capacity of removing mental health stigmas at all workplaces.
Further, she said accountability set through a good mental health policy, will help in ensuring that the right actions are taken adding that management commitment can be demonstrated by measuring performance and supporting promotional activities around mental health.
However, she said the current economic challenges require mental health support for all cadre of workers, including the informal sectors, such as the Jua kali artisans who might be struggling a lot due to lack of a structured outlet.
By Veronica Bosibori
