The relationship between mental health and the labour market is quite complex. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year globally to depression and anxiety at a cost of USD 1 trillion per …
The relationship between mental health and the labour market is quite complex. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year globally to depression and anxiety at a cost of USD 1 trillion per year in lost productivity! Deloitte's Mental Health Survey has mentioned in a report that poor mental health amongst employees costs the Indian employers around USD 14 billion per annum. Therefore, protecting mental health at workplaces is not only an ethical issue for the concerned authorities, but also an economic one.
The WHO has mentioned in its latest report that 80% of workers reported some form of mental health issues at workplaces in the post-COVID-19 period. Currently, people employed in the service sector take various drugs to reduce anxiety. Hence, the demand for anxiety pills has gradually increased in recent times. No one knows how the factory workers or workers in the unorganised sector are dealing with mental issues.
Psychologists have expressed serious concern over some issues, like the pressure of production and delivery time (deadline), working for continuous 10-12 hours, lack of washrooms at workplaces, misbehaviour of colleagues, etc. All these have an impact on the mental health of employees, prompting them to depend on medicines. Some organisations have attempted to address these issues by allowing their employees to sleep at workplaces or by arranging spaces for recreation purposes inside the office premises. In April 2024, a Chinese retail company announced 10 extra Unhappy Leaves a year for its employees in addition to the holidays they were entitled to. The top management of the company claimed that the move was aimed at combating the long working hours trend, stressing that they decided to implement a better work-life balance in the office culture. The management has realised that it is important to keep the mind of its employees healthy.
One can consider such initiatives as exceptions. With big multinational companies capturing the global market, the labour movement has weakened in the 21st Century. Also, there is a labour surplus in Developing Nations where unemployment is severe. In such a scenario, problems related to mental health could cost an employee her/his job! As per the Central Statistical Organisation (of India), eight out of 10 people who suffer from mental health issues are out of work! Although the Right to Mental Health exists in law, it is not respected at workplaces in India. Hence, the majority of people do not enjoy their Right to Work. While some face mental problems for joblessness, others lose jobs because of mental issues.
Administrative rules and regulations are partly responsible for this. A joint venture between the Government of India and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) made an initiative to create job opportunities for recovering psychiatric patients who were able and willing to work. Unfortunately, many of such people, abandoned by their family, have no identity cards and bank accounts. As a result, they have failed to get a job.
Another important issue is the attitude of the higher authorities at workplaces. Health issues, like high blood pressure or diabetes, cannot be cured. They have to be controlled with the help of medicines, instead. So is mental health! Regular treatment and counselling help mental patients to perform well at workplaces. However, many employees do not disclose their mental issues at workplaces due to the fear of being fired or being isolated by the higher authorities.
A number of famous personalities have admitted that they rose to the top in their respective fields by dealing with mental health issues in a proper manner. Many of them have also taken initiatives to raise awareness about mental healthcare. American gymnast Simone Arianne Biles Owens established herself as the greatest of all time at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was forced to withdraw from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental illness. After that, she took two years to cure her mental health condition. Indeed, people, like Biles, are exceptionally talented. However, more or less everyone has to deal with mental issues. Even successful people are no exception! Every person suffering from mental illnesses has a right to live with dignity.
Unfortunately, labour, as well as civic, organisations hardly talk about Mental Healthcare. It is the time to realise that the work environment should be conducive to physical comfort, as well as mental well-being. It will increase both efficiency and productivity of the employees.
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