Today we begin National Mental Health Week, with Mental Health in the Workplace as our focus. Wednesday is World Mental Health Day, subtitled Stress Less Day. The Mental Health Association urges some pertinent considerations on us and our work style. We spend about half of our waking life at work. Nearly 80 per cent of our friendships are related to our workplace, further blurring our social and workplace connections.
Workers have less down time to spend with their families or on exercise, hobbies or entertainment.
This time factor is sufficient reason for serious consideration of a mentally healthier workplace. The costs are heavy, too. The employers and employees who reduce or eliminate these undesirable features achieve a mentally healthier and emotionally happier workplace. Likewise, reducing stress increases both emotional and physical wellbeing and the overall improved life satisfaction means people are more creative, productive, efficient and happy in a pleasant ambience. There must, of course, be mutual recognition, on the part of both management and staff, of the other s worth, both as individuals and as members of the organisation.