World Day for Safety and Health at Work

April 28, 2021 By admin

Kick out the imposter syndrome. Show up and Stand out! 

(Mental Health in the workplace)

 

Dr Ifeoma Monye 
28 April 2021
 

Recognizing the great challenge that governments, employers, workers and whole societies are facing worldwide to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work will focus on addressing the outbreak of infectious diseases at work, in particular, on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Concern is growing over the continuing rise in COVID-19 infections in some parts of the world and the ability to sustain declining rates in others. Governments, employers, workers and their organizations face enormous challenges as they try to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and protect safety and health at work. Beyond the immediate crisis, there are also concerns about resuming activity in a manner that sustains progress made in suppressing transmission.

We have learned from past crisis that workplaces can be of vital importance to prevent and control outbreaks. Adequate safety and health measures at work can play a crucial role in containing the spread of the disease, while protecting workers and society at large. Governments, employers and workers all have a role to play in tackling COVID-19 crisis, and their collaboration is key.

Protect the mental health of health and care workers in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health and care workers have been at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year. It has resulted in heavier workloads and longer working hours, with insufficient time for rest and recuperation while continuously being exposed to the risk of infection. In addition, many face violence, harassment and stigmatization as they try to do their jobs. All this is taking a toll on health workers’ mental health and wellbeing.

Personal risk factors for health workers’ mental health include lower levels of education, inadequate training, less clinical experience, working as a part-time employee, increased time in quarantine, social isolation, having children at home, lower household income, younger age, female sex, comorbid physical health conditions and the impact of the pandemic on their personal lifestyle. Lower perceived personal self-efficacy and a history of psychological distress, mental health disorders or substance abuse, are further risk factors. These risks make health workers vulnerable to common mental health conditions including anxiety, depression and insomnia. Mental health issues can contribute to reduced performance, absence, staff resignations or higher turnover, a reduction in efficiency and increased possibility of human error, which may pose a threat to both health workers and patient safety

According to international recommendations by WHO and others, the following additional measures should be considered for protecting mental health in the workplace.

  • Implement surveillance measures to detect critical incidents and mitigate their impact on the mental health of health workers.
  • Ensure that quality communication and accurate information updates are provided to all health workers, and rotate workers from higher-stress to lower-stress functions.
  • Partner inexperienced workers with experienced colleagues and ensure that outreach personnel enter the community in pairs.
  • Ensure availability of and facilitate access to confidential mental health and psychosocial support services for health workers, including remotely-provided or on-site services.
  • Provide mechanisms for early and confidential identification and management of anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions, and initiate psychosocial support strategies and first-line interventions.
  • Promote a mental health prevention culture among health workers and health managers.
  • Ensure health workers who develop mental health conditions and seek help can return to their work without stigma or discrimination

Good mental health at work and good management go hand in hand and there is strong evidence that workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing are more productive.

 

Reference:

  1. World Day for Safety and Health at Work – United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/observances/work-safety-day
  2. COVID-19: Occupational health and safety for health workers – World Health Organization and International Labour Organization, 2 February 2021. https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/multimedia/video/institutional-videos/WCMS_770325/lang–en/index.htm. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_dialogue/—sector/documents/publication/wcms_769309.pdf
  3. Kisely S, Warren N, McMahon L, Dalais C, Henry I, Siskind D. Occurrence, prevention, and management of the psychological effects of emerging virus outbreaks on healthcare workers: rapid review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2020;369:m1642. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1642
  4. Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak. Geneva: World Health Organization; 18 March 2020 (https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-healthconsiderations.pdf?sfvrsn=6d3578af_10, accessed 20 November 2020).
  5. Addressing mental health and psychosocial aspects of COVID-19 outbreak: interim briefing note, version 1.5. Geneva: Inter-Agency Standing Committee; February 2020 (https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/2020- 11/IASC%20Interim%20Briefing%20Note%20on%20COVID19%20Outbreak%20Readiness%20and%20Response%20Operations%20-%20MHPSS_3.pdf, accessed 20 November 2020).
  6. Occupational safety and health in public health emergencies: a manual for protecting health workers and responders. Geneva: World Health Organization and International Labour Organization; 2018 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/occupational-safety-and-health-in-public-health-emergencies-a-manualfor-protecting-health-workers-and-responders, accessed 20 November 2020).
  7. Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and considerations during severe shortages. Interim guidance, 23 December 2020. Geneva: World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/rational-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-for-coronavirus-disease- (covid-19)-and-considerations-during-severe-shortages, accessed 29 December 2020).