It’s a day to raise awareness and to mobilize efforts of support.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day.
“Mental Health is something we all have,” said Catherine Hardman, the chief executive officer of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Huron Perth. “Some days we have really good mental health and on other days we may be struggling.”
The focus of this year's World Mental Health Day is mental health at work. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 12 billion workdays per year are lost to anxiety and depression alone.
“This is a pretty common thing, and I don’t think people realize that they are not alone,” said Hardman. “Lots of people struggle in different ways, so it is important for workplaces to be educated on how to start conversations about mental health with employees.”
The annual day focuses on awareness on mental health as there are still many stigmas associated with mental health including prejudice, stereotyping and even discrimination.
“I think it is important that managers and supervisors are trained to be able to see the signs of stress or depression,” said Hardman. “They need to be able to have those difficult conversations.”
The stress of mental health can lead workers to decrease their productivity, not function the way they usually do, and even take lots of sick days.
“It’s about showing appreciation for your workers,” said Hardman. “When people are satisfied with their jobs they are more productive, they feel supported and most importantly they feel safe.”
CMHA says while it is important for companies and employers to have policies in place to support employees, it is also up to the employees to take care of their mental health as well.
“We spend a lot of our time at work, so it’s important that you are paying attention to how you are feeling,” said Hardman. “ At the same time it is important to recognize when you are getting burnt out, or are just not feeling well, and having those conversations with your supervisor to figure out a plan to support you.”
