New WHO/ILO mental health guidelines focus on the workplace

New WHO/ILO mental health guidelines focus on the workplace

Workplaces amplify issues that have a negative affect on mental wellbeing, says the World Health Organisation: through feelings of inequality, discrimination and bullying. 12 billion workdays are said to be lost annually as a result of depression and anxiety, costing the global economy nearly $1trn.

At the same time only 35% of countries around the world have specific national programmes that support work-related mental wellbeing.

Call to action

The WHO alongside the International Labour Organisation has launched its guidelines on mental health at work, with suggestions of practical actions to take in a WHO/ILO policy brief.

The guidelines recommend in particular that organisations take action on issues such as heavy workloads, pay more attention to the kinds of negative behaviours that create distress among employees, and provide training to managers on how to prevent creating a stressful work environment.

Employers are also encouraged to look again at how to best accommodate the needs of workers with mental health conditions and support their return to work.

New worlds of support

EAPA UK chair Eugene Farrell said: “The WHO has been providing active advice and guidance on physical health for many decades, great strides have been taken internationally on prevention and cure of physical illness and disease.

“As the WHO interventions have indicated, mental health is now among the biggest threat to societies — and workplaces are at the centre of the issues involved. That means mental wellbeing strategies, linked to practical programmes of support, have to be front and centre of organisational strategy.”

New WHO/ILO mental health guidelines focus on the workplace – EAPA UK