The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being.

In this sense, they greatly influence the way we think, feel and act, and help determine how we approach work and communicate with others.

Mental health and work environment

Mental health is one of the important issues affecting public health, and since we spend most of our lives at work, the work environment is the ideal place for public health-conscious initiatives that promote mental and behavioral health, and prevent problems and diseases.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Health, mental health can improve at work, if employers are keen to provide the ideal environment for employees to work, which is consequently reflected in the quality and excellence of work.

Is work necessary for mental health?

Many studies in psychology have concluded that work can enhance an individual’s connection to the social and economic world, as well as enhance well-being and give an individual sense of satisfaction and achievement.

The importance of work for mental health is underlined by the fact that those who have lost their jobs often suffer from psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression, and work has also been linked to lower self-esteem and self-esteem.

From a societal perspective, job loss has been associated with a significant decrease in quality of life and family relationships, and an increase in crime rates.

Many studies have also indicated that the consequences of high unemployment are more devastating and dangerous than the consequences of poverty.

The benefits of work for mental health

Work is an essential element in the improvement and prosperity of mental health, and its importance appears in several points, the most prominent of which is that good work contributes to the achievement of personality and financial and social prosperity for the individual.

It is also the most effective way to improve the well-being of the individual, his family and society, in addition to being a vital component of the recovery process for those with psychological problems, as it helps to build self-esteem.

Psychological problems resulting from work

In a healthy work environment, mental health thrives greatly, but the opposite is true in poor and inappropriate work environments, which cause many psychological problems, the most important of which are:

Depression

Depression is a serious medical condition that negatively affects a person and limits his ability to function well, and its impact extends to his personal life.

A person is depressed if they experience these symptoms for more than two weeks:

Deep sadness Loss of interest in work Difficulty making decisions Sleep problems Loss of energy and increased fatigue Weight and appetite changes

anxiety

People with anxiety disorders experience feelings of panic, physical or emotional stress, and intense fear.

Anxiety disorders are also associated with poor productivity and inability to work in the short and long term. The most prominent symptoms are:

Excessive tension – a constant feeling of panic – rapid breathing accompanied by sweating and trembling – digestive problems – sleeping problems.

Job burnout

It is a state of mental or physical stress that includes a sense of decreased productivity and a loss of personal identity.

It is not a medical diagnosis, as experts believe other conditions such as depression and anxiety are responsible for burnout.

In general, mental health is closely related to work and affects each other, so the role of employers is extremely important to provide appropriate work environments that allow the comfort and development of employees.

On the other hand, the well-being of mental health helps to increase productivity and focus in completing tasks in the best possible way.