HARARE: 10 Oct. 2017  Today Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to commemorate World mental health day at Lafarge Cement plant in Harare. Lafarge is a cement producing company which has strong policies about their workers’ physical and mental well being  while at work.

World mental health  day, which was jointly commemorated with World suicide prevention day, was held under the theme Mental health in the workplace. The theme addresses the value of promoting well-being in work settings of all kinds. Mental health is often neglected as a key aspect of employees’ overall health. Most working people spend over 60%of their waking hours at work, so mental health at work is at the heart of daily social interactions.

Mental health in the workplace is an initiative that promotes a safe and psychologically friendly work environment. Mental health friendly workplaces have programs and practices  that promote employee wellness and/or work-life balance. Employers can become change agents by modifying risk factors for stress in the workplace, creating an organizational climate that promotes wellbeing and creativity; and facilitating care for those who need it.

Speaking on behalf of the WHO Representative at the commemoration, Dr A. Chimusoro, Medical Officer responsible for  disease prevention and control in the WHO country office, said workplace wellbeing is key to ensuring a healthy, sustainable workforce which is essential for a healthier, more productive and prosperous country. “To assist companies and workers, WHO has produced the “Protecting workers’ health” series which provides guidance on common issues like harassment and stress that can affect the health of workers,” he said. Dr Chimusoro also said that with WHO support Zimbabwe has trained some trainers in WHO’s mental health Gap Action Program (mhGAP) which provides WHO’s technical instruments for early identification and management of alcohol and drug use disorders, and for suicide prevention; and this could be useful for improving mental health in the workplace.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Principal Director, Preventive Services, Dr. G. Mhlanga, the Honorable Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. D. Parirenyatwa urged companies and organizations to invest in the mental well-being of their emloyees.  “Untreated mental disorders in employees result in diminished productivity at work, reduced rates of  labour participation, increase in workplace accidents, high turnover of staff and increased welfare payments, so its better and cheaper to ensure workplace wellbeing,” he said.  He also reminded the guests that treatment for mental illness is free at all health institutions in Zimbabwe.

World mental health day is commemorated every year on 10th October under a different theme each year.