World Mental Health Day: Healthy work is protective!

 

#WorldMentalHealthDay

World Mental Health Day: Healthy work is protective!

This year’s official theme of World Mental Health Day is ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’.

When employees are confronted with poor working conditions, discrimination, and stigma not only their mental health is affected, but consequently participation or productivity at work. On the other hand, safe and healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health. Therefore, employees as well as employers and communities benefit from prioritizing mental health in the workplace.

                                                                    

What is Mental Health?

Mental health describes how an individual feel or think about oneself and others and how one may interpret events in daily routine. It also interlinks with an individual’s capability to cope with noteworthy life events, transition besides changes together with stress that often comes our way. It is an emotional resilience to better enjoy life together with surviving emotional pain, sadness, disappointment and to the level of belief in others worth, dignity in addition to one’s own.

The term mental health is complex. The World Health Organization defines mental health as:

“a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to his or her community.”

In other words, “mental health means more than just an absence of mental illness; it also consists of elements of occupational in addition to social functioning.”

                                                                        

What is Mental Illness?

Like other chronic physical diseases, mental and behavioral disorders may strike at any age and impact a person’s life, demanding continuing management and monitoring. Mental illness such as obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, autism, or schizophrenia tend to change an individual’s feelings, thoughts, and/or behaviors in different ways. With most of the diseases, mental illness is severe in few cases in addition to being mild in other types of cases. People having a mental illness don’t look sick inevitably, specifically if their disease is mild. Other people possibly may display more obvious symptoms such as confusion, agitation, or withdrawal.

Strategic developments at governmental level reflects a positive understanding of mental health and give attention to mental and behavioral disorders in the national level planning. UAE classifies mental health as a vital component of a balanced care system. It is also well recognized that mental disorders cause great human sufferings, threatens social and economic development, and cut lives short.

                                                                    

Mental Health in GCC Employees

In 2022, the McKinsey Health Institute surveyed more than four thousand employees in four Middle Eastern countries that are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — to understand the state of employee health in the region.

• One out of three GCC respondents reported burnout symptoms. Many also reported struggles with physical health conditions, with different patterns among demographic groups.
• Two out of three GCC respondents reported symptoms of poor mental health and well-being, or had a mental-health condition diagnosis.
• Nevertheless, three out of four GCC respondents reported being happy at work, which appeared to be correlated with employees listing a sense of purpose in their work and in their relationships at work.

Some targeted actions by GCC countries point to growing recognition of the importance of promoting employee health and well-being. For example, the UAE has been an early adopter in integrating employee health and well-being into its governmental agenda by setting up the National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing.

                                                                

Are You Happy or Well at Work?

Experts have a wide range of opinions regarding the precise definitions of happiness and wellbeing, what each entails and to what extent they overlap. There is a relative consensus, however, on the general principles of each concept, how they relate to each other and their significance at the workplace.

Happiness is defined by two aspects. The first is experiential, a feeling of a moment. Positive emotions such as joy, excitement, love, hope and amusement are more abundant than negative ones, though the latter need not necessarily be absent. The second aspect is evaluative, in which individuals reflect on past feelings of happiness and how they contribute to overall satisfaction.

Well-being accounts for how people evaluate their lives as a whole, the degree of control they have over them and from where they derive their sense of purpose. Well-being is concerned not just with how people feel, but also how they function, both personally and socially.

Half or more of our waking hours are spent at the workplace. A positive work environment can be a wellspring of positive emotions and a source of purpose — ideal conditions for promoting individual happiness and well-being. Happy and positive work environments have numerous advantages over traditional workplaces. Organizations that actively work to create welcoming spaces reap many of the benefits that they entail. Some of these are tangible, such as increased retention and improved productivity and quality of work. Organizations also see a steep reduction in absenteeism, sick leave and tardiness. A study conducted at the University of Warwick predicted that productivity levels increased by up to 12% when leadership invested sincerely in promoting happiness and wellbeing at work.

                                                            

Targeted Actions to Improve Workplace Health and Well-being

Some targeted actions by GCC countries point to growing recognition of the importance of promoting employee health and well-being.

Actions, both preventive and reactive, taken by employers at three levels — organizational, team, and individual — could help to improve employee health and well-being in the GCC region. Governments also play an important role in fostering health and well-being and in creating an environment for society to flourish and organizations to act. They could consider measures to prevent damage to individuals and the system, while having the infrastructure to react if symptoms have already materialized, such as:

• ensure health and well-being is on their agendas at every level, clarify their aspirations, and craft action plans to drive innovation and impact
• boost awareness with an inspirational narrative and foster dialogue to reduce stigma
• define regulatory standards for psychological health and safety in the workplace

UAE has developed clear positioning and ambitions regarding their many initiatives supporting its National Wellbeing Strategy. Among those are a Happiness and Wellbeing Policy Bundle, which sets guidelines and requirements for all groups in society.

                                                                

UAE Efforts in Mental Health Services and Destigmatizing

When preventive measures have been insufficient and mental health is compromised, a reactive healthcare infrastructure providing psychological support and appropriate psychiatric treatment is required.

As stated by Alya Zaid Mohammed Harbi, Director, Statistics and Research Centre at MoHAP in the report mental health in the UAE 1992–2019, “mental illness knows no borders. In the United Arab Emirates, things are not different than the rest of the world. In fact, anxiety and depression in UAE are the top ten causes of ill health.”

And the burden might even be underestimated: People who suffer from mental illness are unlikely to be forthcoming about being curious or acquire treatments, or even disclosing their condition to their employers, friends or family. Not all mentally ill people seek guidance and assistance. Some people deal with their concerns at home either with the family or unaccompanied, with limited time to come to the attention of health services. Some might not receive required aid as their mental health issues often goes undiagnosed.

When it comes to the treatment of mental health, significant improvements have been made by the United Arab Emirates. Only few years ago, if people required urgent or specific care, they were most likely to travel abroad to get it. With ever growing population to serve, more hospital and clinics have now been developed, along with an increased focus in mental health services.

Recognizing the growing burden of mental health disorders, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has incorporated the 1st inclusive mental health strategy for Dubai. The strategy is entitled as “Happy Lives, Healthy Communities”, was launched and harmonized with Dubai Health Strategy 2016–2021 to work towards positive operation and implementation, active participation of the community to eradicate the stigma associated with to mental illness, in addition to patient empowerment. In December 2023 the UAE Government has issued a Federal Law on mental health, aligning with the latest practices and advancement in mental healthcare landscape, securing the rights of psychiatric patients and ensuring the provision of the best physical and mental care.

                                                                

Finally: Foster Your Individual Mental Health!

Everyone is likely to experience some level of stress, anxiety, or sadness at some point in life. Whether at work or in your personal life, you may cultivate your own “immunity” and resilience to cope and prosper during difficult circumstances. Resilience is defined as the ability to succeed, live, and develop positively in the face of challenges or adversity. It is the capacity to retain personal well-being in the face of hardship. Finally, resilience typically entails interpreting difficult situations as ‘opportunities’ to develop your own character and grow as a person.

Seeing stress as an opportunity, and then learning how to adapt and manage it, may allow you to appreciate life more, relish difficulties, and overcome temporary roadblocks.
 But how do you build personal resilience in everyday life? It takes a combination of habits, attitudes, and actions to improve personal well-being and mental health. You also need to acquire coping methods to help you manage stress and approach life’s challenges more positively. It also helps if you can tap into the personal qualities and support of family, friends, and colleagues.

Here are 10 suggestions for helping you to improve your personal resilience:

Embrace change

Accept that change (and the need to adapt to it) is part of day-to-day life. Certain goals may no longer be attainable because of adverse situations. Accepting circumstances that cannot be changed can help you focus on circumstances that you can change.

Take action

Take decisive action rather than wishing problems away. Don’t let your problems cripple you to the point of inaction. Take any action that moves you forward even if it is only a small step.

Set realistic goals

Focus on small steps and realistic goals that can be accomplished regularly. Instead of focusing on tasks that seem unachievable, ask yourself, “What’s one thing I know I can accomplish today that will help me move in the direction I want to go?”

Be flexible

Begin by learning how to compromise. The sooner you learn that your way isn’t the only way, the sooner you will see how to move through a stressful crisis. It may be inflexible thinking that got you into that stressful situation in the first place.

See setbacks as temporary

Avoid seeing crises as insurmountable and maintain a long-term view toward the future. You can’t change the fact that highly stressful events happen, but you can change how you interpret and respond to these events. Try looking beyond the present to how future circumstances may be a little better. Note any subtle ways in which you might already feel somewhat better as you deal with difficult situations.

Maintain perspective

Even when facing very difficult events, try to consider the stressful situation in a broader context and keep a long-term perspective. Avoid blowing the event out of proportion. Don´t miss challenges or failures with catastrophes.

Look for opportunities for self-discovery

People often learn about themselves as a result of their struggle with loss. Many people who have experienced tragedies and hardship have reported better relationships, greater sense of strength, increased sense of self-worth, a more developed spirituality and heightened appreciation for life.

Nurture an attitude of gratitude

Nurture a positive view of yourself that allows you to trust your instincts. Before going to bed at night make a mental list of everything you should be grateful for. Gratitude is one of the basic underpinnings of contentment and stress resilience.

Seek support

Making connections with people who can provide social support can help strengthen resilience. Accept help and support from family, friends, colleagues and mentors.

Take care of yourself

Pay attention to your own needs and feelings. Engage in activities that you enjoy and find time to relax and exercise regularly. These activities not only help you relax after a stressful day, but they also help make you more resistant to stress in the future. Taking care of yourself is generally contributing to a better mental and physical health.

Seeing stress as an opportunity, and then learning how to cope and manage it, will allow you to appreciate life more, enjoy challenges and overcome obstacles that only temporarily block your way.

                                                           

Have a good start in your next working day!

- your TKH team

Disclaimer

For emergency situations involving thoughts of hurting yourself or others or disorganized behavior such as hallucinations/ delusions with impaired judgement or poor insight, please call 999 or head to SKMC ER in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain hospital ER in Al Ain., or to the nearest ER to you.

For non-emergency situations, you can book at appointment with a primary healthcare doctor at the Ambulatory Health Service AHS-SEHA, or any other service provider.

You can also call Estijabah at 8001717 and select the psychological support option. The call will be handled by a professional counselor confidentially and at no charge.