Today marks World Mental Health Day, celebrated under the theme, “It is Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace.”
This year, the focus is on creating awareness and fostering change in how mental health is addressed within workplaces globally.
In Uganda, the theme resonates strongly as the country grapples with rising mental health issues, particularly in the face of socio-economic challenges, cultural expectations, and an evolving work environment.
Recent data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), through the National Population and Housing Census (NPHC), reveals an unsettling trend. Of Uganda’s population of 45.9 million people, 17.8% of men and 18.9% of women are grappling with mental illness.
These figures reveal the urgent need to rethink how mental health is approached, especially in the context of workplaces where stress, stigma, and lack of support often exacerbate conditions.
This revelation comes at a time when mental health discussions are gaining more visibility, yet support systems within organizations remain weak.
Many workers in Uganda face tremendous pressure to meet economic demands, often juggling multiple jobs or dealing with poor working conditions. These factors, coupled with limited access to professional mental health services, make it crucial for businesses and institutions to step up and prioritize mental well-being.
Workplaces are not immune to the effects of mental illness. Poor mental health can lead to increased absenteeism, low productivity, poor job satisfaction, and even heightened turnover rates.
According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.
In Uganda, where unemployment rates are already high and resources limited, organizations cannot afford to ignore the mental health of their employees.
Ugandan workers often face extended hours, with limited time for rest, and many operate under difficult conditions.
Stress, burnout, and the pressure to maintain a high standard of performance without adequate support can push individuals toward mental health crises. With the stigma still surrounding mental illness in many communities, employees may be reluctant to seek help, fearing that they will be perceived as weak or incapable.
Workplaces in Uganda, from small businesses to large corporations, must prioritize creating supportive environments where employees feel safe to talk about mental health.
Incorporating mental health policies, offering access to counseling services, and organizing mental health awareness programs are just some of the steps that can make a big difference. Employers can also promote work-life balance by ensuring that workers have manageable workloads and time for rest and relaxation.
The government, in collaboration with mental health organizations, can play a significant role in providing resources, raising awareness, and ensuring that there is a legal framework in place that protects employees suffering from mental illness.
The Mental Health Act 2018 was a step forward in this direction, but more needs to be done to make sure that organizations are held accountable for providing mentally healthy environments.
The Act introduces mental health services at the community level, new referral and admission procedures, and has significantly strengthened the protection of rights of people with mental health conditions.
A health center IV is required to have an enrolled psychiatric nurse, while a district hospital should have a psychiatric clinical officer and two psychiatric nurses to run a mental health clinic. Regional Referral Hospitals should have a psychiatrist and other cadres of mental health workers. So far, a few regional referral hospital mental health departments are headed by psychiatrists.
However, the operationalization of the Mental Health Act has faced challenges of low recruitment of psychiatric personnel in health facilities, non-existence of the Uganda Mental Health Advisory Board to set standards and monitor the implementation of the Act and other regulations to properly enforce the Act.
While statistics paint a broad picture, individual stories highlight the human cost of neglecting mental health.
Grace, a 29-year-old sales executive in Kampala, shares how she struggled with anxiety for years but was afraid to tell her employer.
“I was constantly worried about my performance. I couldn’t sleep or concentrate, and eventually, I started dreading going to work,” she recalls. Without support from her workplace, Grace’s mental health deteriorated, leading her to take a break from her job.
Similarly, Oketcho, a boda-boda rider in Makindye, speaks about the depression he experienced after a road accident that left him unable to work for months.
“I felt worthless and was ashamed to talk to anyone. I didn’t know where to turn for help,” he explains. Oketcho’s story is just one among many, where a lack of awareness and support from the workplace has left individuals feeling isolated and hopeless.
Creating mentally healthy workplaces in Uganda requires a collective effort from employers, employees, the government, and mental health professionals. It is essential to recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health, and it should be treated with the same urgency.
As we observe World Mental Health Day under the theme “It is Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace,” we must commit to breaking the silence, eradicating stigma, and making mental health care accessible and acceptable in every workplace.
By doing so, Uganda can not only improve the well-being of its workforce but also enhance productivity and create a more resilient economy.
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