Sometimes it’s trivialised. Other times it’s ignored. All of this due to a limited understanding of the subject. Yet, we would all benefit from knowing more about mental health. On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day, let’s take a moment to focus on a topic that concerns us all, with a special emphasis on mental health in the workplace and the attitudes that would be good to adopt…

According to the World Health Organisation, mental health is characterised by the absence of mental disorders, good adaptation to social settings, and the ability to cope with the ups and downs of both personal and professional life. In practical terms, this means that a person in good mental health:

• Does not suffer from conditions such as depression, anxiety, or other disorders affecting mental functioning.
• Is capable of positively interacting with their surroundings, maintaining harmonious relationships, and integrating into various social contexts (family, work, friends).
• Is able to manage stress, challenges, changes, and life’s difficulties without these deeply impacting their psychological well-being.

However, mental health constantly fluctuates because it depends on many factors, according to the Quebec National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ):

• Social inequalities such as access to safety, discrimination, and stigmatisation…
• Living environments such as housing quality, the types of parent-child bonds, the quality of interpersonal relationships, the sense of belonging at school, the level of decision-making power at work, participation in social, community, or political activities…
• Individual characteristics like physical health, past negative experiences, spirituality, among others.

Now, let’s focus on mental health at work, this year’s theme. According to the WHO, around 280 million people worldwide are estimated to suffer from depression, and over 300 million experience anxiety disorders. A large number of people live with both conditions. This highlights the importance of creating a healthy work environment. How? Well…

• By training managers on mental health issues to help them recognise emotional distress in their teams and take appropriate action; developing relational skills such as open communication and active listening (by creating a space where everyone feels comfortable expressing concerns, emotions, or needs without fear of judgement);
• By focusing on employee training to raise awareness and improve knowledge about mental health;
• By implementing interventions aimed at individuals to teach them how to manage stress and reduce symptoms in the event of mental health issues, such as providing opportunities for recreational physical activities.

Each of us, at our own level, can also adopt an attitude that promotes mental health, at work and beyond…

• By being kind, offering positive and caring support to colleagues, and fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and understood.
• By being empathetic, putting ourselves in others’ shoes to better understand their emotions and difficulties, while adopting an active listening approach without judgement.
• By being respectful, recognising and valuing individual differences, personal and professional boundaries, while appreciating each person’s contributions in a climate of trust.

Because ultimately, mental health isn’t just the responsibility of experts, but everyone’s. So, let’s all play our part in creating healthy environments, at work and beyond, where everyone can truly thrive.