Times Of Swaziland: EMBRACE THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

EMBRACE THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
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Editor on 10/10/2024 07:12:00


Sir,
On World Mental Health Day, let us all come together to talk about mental health
and show everyone that mental health matters. Talking about our mental health
can help us cope better with life’s ups and downs. So, on World Mental Health
Day and beyond it, why not check in with your friends, family, peers, or
colleagues?
Importance
World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on October 10. This year’s
theme set by the World Federation of Mental Health is ‘Workplace mental
health’. The theme highlights the importance of addressing mental health and
wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, and
communities. There are lots of ways that you can take part in World Mental
Health Day. Celebrate with a Tea and Talk! Last year, over 260 000 people had a
Tea & Talk for World Mental Health Day - raising vital funds for mental health
whilst getting together and talking about mental health. Every donation supports
our life-changing work and brings us closer to a world with good mental health
for all. Tea & Talk is a great way to come together with friends, family or
colleagues to raise money and awareness for the Mental Health Foundation.
Impact
Work can have a huge impact on our mental health. It can be good for our mental
health, giving us a sense of purpose, boosting our self-worth, and providing
opportunities to connect with others. But it can also be a source of stress and
anxiety and contribute to developing or worsening mental health problems. Many
people spend a lot of their time working, whether it is in the community, in an
office, a workshop, at home, or many other workplaces. That is why it is so
important that our workplace supports our mental health, helping us get the
mental health benefits of work while reducing the negative impact.
But what is a mentally healthy workplace?
There are many things that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace, from
providing staff training on mental health to tackling discrimination and
bullying. Importantly, a mentally healthy workplace supports open conversations
about mental health.  While talking about mental health in the workplace has
become more common, many people still face stigma when it comes to severe mental
health problems.  This means there’s more work to be done to tackle mental
health stigma in the workplace.  Talking is good for your mental health. And
talking about mental health is important. But starting a conversation is not
always easy.
The Mental Health Foundation