Sadness and momentary anxiety are normal emotions that can easily become excessive, irrational, ongoing, distressing, and start to interfere with our daily lives. They can evolve into serious mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which need to be dealt with. These mental health issues are caused by a number of factors that can affect anyone, anywhere. Recently the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic have led to a serious global mental health crisis.
The Kunashe Foundation earlier this year conducted a survey on mental health in the workplace. The survey was targeted at working women across sectors. 144 women responded to the survey and the majority of the respondents (52.1%) were aged between 25 to 34 followed by 26.4% of the respondents who were aged between 35 to 44. Further to this respondents were primarily from the manufacturing industry, 52.8%, the health sector 17.4% and 17.4% from financial & professional services,
The analysis revealed that 91% of the 144 respondents felt their mental health was strained during the COVID 19 pandemic. When asked about the emotions they mostly related with, 43.8% were experiencing anxiety, 23.6% depression, and the remainder emotions related to fear and helplessness.
The main triggers of distress during the pandemic have been the socio-economic environment, dwindling job security, and financial strain.
85.2% of the respondents admitted that mental health affect their productivity in the work place yet 76.2% of the respondents noted that they do not have access to mental health support or resources in the workplace.
The majority of the respondents (95.8%) highlighted that they would benefit from an increase in mental health support. Mental Health matters and it is up to us to begin to normalize the conversations around mental health as well as for industry to provide essential mental health support.
Mental health impacts all of us and it is essential that we take care of our mental state the same way we do our bodies. This can be done through developing a culture of kindness at home and in the workplace as well as the provision of easy to understand resources, access to counsellors and other mental health practitioners. Let's check on each other, listen and be kind. This can make a huge impact and leave our communities and workplaces healthier and happier. Together we can make a difference.
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