The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) dedicated a day to promoting mental health awareness in the workplace, highlighting its vital role in boosting employees' productivity and overall quality of life.
The World Mental Health Day takes place every year on October 10 to raise awareness and encourage efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues.
MICT commemorated this day on Friday and had a lineup of activities and impactful talks from experts.
Its Executive Director, Dr. Audrin Mathe, highlighted practical approaches to improving workplace mental health and financial stability, which are deeply interconnected.
"Your work is very important. I'm sure most of you get offered jobs that pay very well, but the environment is not the one that is good for your mental health, and then you would decline because if whatever happens, you are no longer useful to that organisation, they will check you out and they will rehire you almost immediately, so don't always follow the money; follow your health because health is what you need and money is secondary."
MICT staff had relaxation exercises and resources on how to recognise signs of mental health struggles in both themselves and their colleagues.
The stigma surrounding mental health facilities was also discussed, emphasising that seeking help and attending mental health check-ups is nothing to be ashamed of.
Mental health counsellor and medical doctor Byron Bock spoke about the overview of mental health and toxic working environments.
"We've been hearing people talking about a toxic workplace: having a toxic supervisor, having a toxic manager, having a toxic colleague. Have we ever imagined how that affects your mental health? Some people end up not coming to work; you don't feel the environment is conducive; some people deal with it differently: substance use, alcohol."
Clinical psychologist Maika Eyesselein explained a theory of the mind on mental health, and if it's not managed well, it can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and even long-term health issues.
"What this theory is based on is the acknowledgement that our mind does not only work consciously; it really does a lot of work, and that's why things are kept in an unconscious mind, and the reason for that is evolution. When we look at our brains, we get so much more of what the animals got. All this stuff up here is very different and in its additions to the brains, and at some point our brain had to adapt a function where it didn't keep everything conscious because we couldn't survive. We wouldn't focus on the things we should focus on that had priority."
The event was a part of MICT's ongoing efforts to build a healthier, more resilient workforce, with plans to integrate mental health resources and support systems into the Ministry's regular operations.