Gadwal: On Thursday, as part of the World Mental Health Day celebrations, Dr. J Sandhya Kiran Mai, the NCD Programme Officer, stressed the importance of mental health in the workplace.
She spoke to the residents of Ramnagar Basti Hospital and Urban Health Center ASHA workers. Dr. Kiran Mai emphasized that flexible work hours can help people find a better balance between their professional and personal lives.
Globally, around 1 billion people are dealing with mental health issues, which is a serious concern, Dr. Kiran Mai pointed out. She highlighted that this year’s theme for World Mental Health Day focuses on making mental health a priority at work.
Reflecting on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Sandhya noted the mental health challenges employees faced, such as job insecurity, balancing family responsibilities, managing children’s education, and worrying about the future.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar, a psychiatrist, also spoke to the ASHA workers. He stressed the importance of raising awareness about mental health. He said that ensuring good mental health at work is not only a moral duty but also a basic responsibility of organizations. He added that proper working hours are essential for reducing stress.
Dr. Kumar also mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic taught us that employees can maintain or even improve their productivity when working from home. Offering flexible working hours can lead to better mental health and improved performance at work.
The event was attended by Dr. Radhika from Basti Hospital, NCD Coordinator Shyam Sundar, CO Hanumanthu, Ramnagar ANMs Martha and Suvarna, and Urban Health Centre ASHA workers, who all contributed to the success of the program.
