TEHRAN –Mental health week kicked off on Wednesday, October 9, and will conclude on October 15.

This year, it is marked under the theme of ‘today’s priority; mental health in the workplace’.

The days of the week are named as follows. 

Wednesday, October 9, ‘motivation, hope, and productivity in the workplace’.

Thursday, October 10, ‘emotion regulation and its role in healthy interactions in the workplace’

Friday, October 11, ‘mental health in the workplace lays the basis for the mental health of family members’.

Saturday, October 12, ‘laying the ground for community-based mental health in the workplace’.

Sunday, October 13, ‘early detection of mental health disorders, early intervention, increase in efficiency’.

Monday, October 14, ‘realizing social responsibility goals of large industrial projects with mental health’. 

Tuesday, October 15, ‘retirement adaptation and mental health’.

World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10, highlighting the impact of the workplace on mental health.

The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) announced the theme for World Mental Health Day 2024, ‘Mental Health at Work’.

One of the key messages of the day is that a supportive work environment fosters mental health, providing purpose and stability. In other words, safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health.

However, poor working conditions can harm mental well-being, reducing both job satisfaction and productivity. Unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination, and exposure to risks like harassment and other poor working conditions, can pose significant risks, affecting mental health, overall quality of life, and consequently participation or productivity at work.

It is essential for governments, employers, the organizations that represent workers and employers, and other stakeholders responsible for workers’ health and safety to work together to improve mental health at work. 

Action to address mental health at work should be done with the meaningful involvement of workers and their representatives, and persons with lived experience of mental health conditions.

By investing efforts and resources in evidence-based approaches and interventions at work, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive at work and in life. 

MT/MG