The Ministry of Works and Transport has stressed the importance of mental wellness as an integral part of overall health and the resilience of its workforce.

The ministry hosted a Mental Health Awareness Day to advocate for a culture of care, support, and open acknowledgement of mental health challenges.

In an address read on his behalf, Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi highlighted the need to foster an environment where mental health struggles are openly acknowledged and supported.

He noted that mental health has often been treated as a private issue, but this stigma, he said, must end within the ministry.

Nekundi said the ministry aims to build a culture of empathy, understanding, and genuine care, where every colleague feels valued, heard, and supported, irrespective of rank or role.

"Today's gathering is a beginning, the conversation we have, the awareness we raise and the support we extend to one another. These actions matter; they matter to individual colleagues who may be silent, silently bearing a burden. They matter to the teams that function best when every member feels valued and heard."

He emphasised that a mentally healthy workforce is critical for delivering services with integrity and excellence, which ultimately benefits the public.