Employee Mental Health Key Factor in Productivity

Karachi (TDI): Good mental health usually ensures increased output and productivity at work. At a World Mental Health Day celebration held at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday, The Pakistan Association for Mental Health (PAMH) stated.

Dr. Syed Ali Wasif of PAMH and rights activist Anis Haroon inaugurated the pharmaceutical exhibits to kick off the proceedings for the day.

The World Federation for Mental Health has declared “It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace” as its subject for the year.

Under Prof. Syed Haroon Ahmed’s guidance, the PAMH was founded in 1965 and has since conducted free health clinics and awareness campaigns.

Dr. Ajmal Mughal, General Secretary of PAMH, presented the annual report in the meeting.

The keynote address was given by Dr. Wasif, who discussed how the population’s growing rates of unemployment (8.5%), extreme inflation (19.87%), and illiteracy were all contributing to these problems.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression and anxiety alone cost the world economy $1 trillion or more in lost productivity each year.

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Today, approximately 21.5% of Pakistanis are estimated to be living in poverty, according to Dr. Wasif. Almost 37% of Pakistan’s population, he said, experienced food insecurity.

He added that unemployment, job insecurity, and food insecurity had all decreased people’s quality of life and inspired dissatisfaction and hopelessness.

The PAMH president stated that the stress of not knowing where one’s next meal would come from has a disastrous effect on people’s mental health.

He cited research showing that 61% of respondents had anxiety, 55% had depression, and 25% had considered suicide.

According to him, Pakistan’s conventional workplace culture frequently prioritizes efficiency and productivity over workers’ mental health, which can result in stress, burnout, and poor performance overall.

The documentary showed the cruel mentality of our dogmatic culture, “Unseen,” directed by Uzair Surhio. Anis spoke extensively about the misuse of human rights, sexual harassment in the workplace, and the Sexual Harassment Act of 2010 and its modifications.

As opposed to one in six men, she stated that one in three women experienced sexual harassment at work.

She stated regrettably, 52% of women have been subjected to verbal abuse and 19% to physical violence. She also said that Pakistan needed to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and establish extensive workplace mental health initiatives.

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She stated that the goal of public education initiatives should be to raise people’s knowledge and comprehension of these concerns, sexual harassment, and associated issues.

They should also inspire people to seek support from various organizations that offer it.

Subsequently, there was a Q&A session and panel discussion. Nasir Masood Butt, the PAMH Joint Secretary, offered a vote of gratitude after the program.

In the panel discussion, which supported integrating mental health services into primary health care to help address mental health issues at the grassroots level, Dr. Ajmal Mughal, Advocate Shazia Nizamani, Drs. Sirajuddin, Rubina Kidwai, Shifa Naeem, and Chuni Lal were among the physicians who took part.