This year, World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness and mobilize efforts in support of mental health in the workplace. Psychologist Tania Cuenca emphasizes that empathy is key.
"The work environment should be quite stable, as there are external and internal factors that influence workers' mental health and affect their performance," she states.
Unhealthy conditions, such as stigma, discrimination, and exposure to risks like harassment and poor working conditions can pose significant threats to mental health, overall quality of life, and consequently, participation or productivity at work, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
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Among the external factors affecting workers' mental health are traffic delays, lack of public transport, and poor service, which lead to frustration and stress.
Various situations in the family, housing, or economic environment can also affect workers, especially in their interactions with others.
"Empathy must exist above all else. The environment must be positive for people to meet their work objectives," she notes.
According to PAHO, mental health issues directly impact workplaces by increasing absenteeism, reducing productivity, and raising healthcare costs. However, stigma and lack of awareness about mental health persist as barriers to addressing these issues in the workplace.
The professional explains that when the work environment is not positive, it adversely affects workers' mental health, and therefore, the expectations that the company has of the employee are not met.
"Employers want employees to be productive, but when they are mentally and psychologically affected, that is not achieved. Empathy among colleagues is necessary because many times they do not want to share their situation for fear of losing their job," she asserts.
She urges companies to have psychology professionals available to assist and support workers, as well as to provide relaxation spaces to "clear the gray clouds, because we are not robots."
"With 60% of the global population working, urgent measures are needed to ensure that work avoids mental health risks, protects, and supports mental health at work," PAHO states.
Reports of unfavorable conditions for mental health can be made at the central headquarters of the Ministry of Labor, located at Herrera corner Paraguarí, Asunción, or at one of the 14 regional offices across the country, from 07:00 to 15:00.