On October 10, 2024, Rwanda joined the rest of the global community to commemorate the World Mental Health Day 2024, the annual celebration that reminds different actors to intensity practices that promote wellness of the employees.
Through Rwanda Biomedical Centre’s Mental Health Division, mental health partners and managers of workers from public and private institutions, convened in Kigali to remind themselves practical strategies that would improve the wellbeing of workers at their respective working places.
These are robust and swift measures to take care of their mental wellness and improve the work productivity. This year mental health day was observed under the theme:” It is time to prioritize Mental Health in the workplace.”
Normally, workplace is seen as a double-edged sword when it comes to mental health related workplace stress. The bidirectional relationship between mental health and the workplace is crucial to understand. Even the healthiest employees can suffer physically and mentally in an unhealthy work environment. Prioritizing mental health in the workplace is essential for fostering a productive and supportive atmosphere. When employers actively address mental well-being, it results in reduced stress, lower absenteeism, and increased employee engagement.
Mental health is often neglected as a key aspect of employees’ overall health, yet the World Health Organization points out that depression heads the list of causes of illness and disability worldwide. Those who experience depression or other disorders may be unable to work or may be less than fully productive. Many of these illnesses can be treated, but access to treatment is often difficult, and stigma may prevent people from seeking services even when they are available.
Dr. Gatera Augustin, who is in charge of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health at WHO Rwanda office noted the need to uphold mental wellness in the workplace as its poor recognition may contribute to the decrease of performance. “Unsupported mental health conditions can impact confidence at work and the productivity” He claimed.
The Government of Rwanda made tremendous strides regarding the provision of workers protection including the development of national policy on Occupation Health and Safety in the workplace and the ministerial order n°01 of 17/05/2012 determining modalities of establishing and functioning of Occupational Health and Safety Committees that was adopted for promoting and maintaining the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations.
The government has also put in place measures to promote the well-being of the workers, including promotion of sports activities. However, much are still needed in terms of implementation of occupational safety and health National Policy and well-being of the employees in the workplace.
On the occasion of the celebration, Dr Iyamuremye Jean Damascene, the Director of Psychiatric Care Unit at RBC emphasizes on the need of better employees’treatment and care at work and its fruits.
“An employer with good mental health conditions spur productivity in the institution, why many of car owners prepare in advance its maintenance plan but not the same for workers.” He noted adding humorously: “It seems in many workplaces, employers tend to take care and fully focused on the work than workers.”
Rwanda Biomedical Centre further calls for placing more emphasis on the link between mental health well-being and employment and re-emphasize the importance of employment support as part of the treatment offered to people with mental illness.
Dr. Darius Gishoma, the Division Manager for Mental Health at Rwanda Biomedical Centre presented that Rwanda achieved a remarkable increased in life expectancy over the past two decades with approximately 40%. However, the share of morbidity due to non-communicable diseases in Rwanda is increasing substantially by 18% in 2000, 38% in 2010 and 42% in 2019.
In this regard Dr. Gishoma calls for more involvement in the promotion of mental health wellbeing. “We call upon everyone to feel sensitive and involved in boosting mental wellness awareness at workplace.
The celebration of the World Mental Health Day 2024 highlights various aspects of mental health at work, from workplace conditions and stress management to the importance of social inclusion and empowerment which needs to be focused on. This will provide a platform to re-kindle our efforts to promote global citizenship and mental health awareness by making our workplaces healthier places.
A healthy workplace benefits workers and employers alike. It is urged everybody to advocate in communities on behalf of all people living with mental illnesses to ensure adequate services and freedom from stigma to get the help they need.
