Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month July 2023

“Open and honest conversations can play a significant role in promoting awareness and fostering a more accepting society. Much of the stigma around psychosocial disabilities are perpetuated by cultural and societal belief systems.” Razaan Galiel

Shattering Stigma: sparking conversations and shifting attitudes about mental health in the workplace

Cape Mental Health celebrates Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month (PDAM) annually in July. This year, Cape Mental Health will roll out their awareness drive called “Shattering Stigma: sparking conversations and shifting attitudes of mental health in the workplace.” The awareness drive will focus on initiating open conversations about mental health in the workplace to help end discrimination against people in the workplace who are living with a psychosocial disorder. The theme has been adapted from the South African Federation of Mental Health’s PDAM drive which is called, “Shattering Stigma: sparking conversations and shifting attitudes of mental health.” Cape Mental Health will look further at how stigma affects people in the workplace and try to address this barrier by encouraging open and informed conversations about mental health at work. 

Stigma and mental health in the workplace

Mental health stigma is the negative view or attitude towards people struggling with their mental health, including those living with a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression. People with severe mental health conditions are more likely to be excluded from employment and, when in employment, they are more likely to experience inequality at work. Being out of work also poses a risk to mental health. Unemployment, job and financial insecurity, and recent job loss are risk factors for suicide attempts.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that an estimated 15% of the world’s workforce have a mental health disorder. About 15 million people are currently employed in South Africa, suggesting that one out of six people or about 2.6 million South Africans are battling with their mental health at work. Studies show that two out of three people with a mental health condition are worried their employer will discriminate against them. One out three will not disclose their status at all, because they are afraid of losing their jobs. 

Only 10% of black Africans and less than 20% of ‘Coloureds’ belong to a private medical scheme, due to its cost. This means that most people of colour, even those that are employed, cannot afford private medical care and will need to rely on government hospital care which can be very slow and time-consuming.  These same people therefore struggle in their jobs, are anxious and isolated, and worried about talking to their employer and taking time off to go to the doctor because of their concerns about their job security and livelihoods. 

Stigma in the workplace can be harmful by:

• - leading to discriminatory behaviour, including harassment
• - Causing people to be reluctant to  seek help or treatment or adherence to treatment
• - affecting people’s attitudes and beliefs that the person will never succeed at certain challenges or that they can't improve their situation (including self-stigma)
• - preventing those struggling with their mental health from feeling safe to disclose and seek support from their employer and others around them
• - Limiting opportunities for work, school or social activities

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.

How can we break down the stigma of mental health in the workplace?

The primary cause of stigma is the lack of understanding and misinformation of mental illness by family, friends, co-workers, and society.

The participation of people with lived experience is vital in the development of anti-stigma programmes. Anti-stigma interventions advocate that public education is critical when it comes to reducing stigma. The media has an important role to play because they are the biggest disseminators of mass information. 

Employers and managers play an important role in helping to reduce mental health stigma, which is a key challenge facing many workplaces. An open and inclusive workplace, where workers feel safe and supported to seek help early, is better for everyone. An article by Great Minds at Work says by talking about mental health, we can help break down the stigma and make it easier for people to seek help and support one another. This could also provide the opportunity for peer support. Mental health issues can affect anybody but, unfortunately, unlike physical health which is openly discussed, mental health can often be stigmatised, which can make it difficult to talk about. It is important to remember that living with a mental health issue is nothing to be ashamed of.  

There are many benefits to talking about mental health at work. Talking openly about mental health could encourage employees, who are struggling to ask for help, to speak up and seek the help they need before they need hospitalisation. This can save a life. When mental health is openly discussed in the workplace, this can help to improve the overall culture of tolerance and understanding, and foster a true sense of community in your organisation. Employees are more likely to be productive and engaged in their work. This can lead to better overall job satisfaction and even a decrease in turnover rates.

What do we want to achieve during Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month?

During the PDAM 2023, Cape Mental Health would like to encourage people to start talking about their mental health at work without the fear of stigma or bullying, and break down some of the myths about co-workers who live with a mental health condition. 
We plan do this by:

Talking on the radio to educate the public, the employer and employee about mental health in the workplace. 

Running a campaign called #BraveToBeMe about mental health in the workplace where people can open up about the stigma of mental health in the workplace, what they have experienced versus how they envisage a stigma-free workplace e.  We will encourage leaders in the workplace to open up about their own mental health journey. 

Offering workshops at workplaces to dispel myths of mental health and get people talking without fear of stigma, and to encourage employers to make time to talk about mental health at work. 

Hosting a story-telling event for service users to talk about their experiences in the workplace. 

Publishing some of these stories online and in print to educate people and build a stigma-free workplace.

 
For more information please visit https://capementalhealth.co.za/ or contact the PR and Communications Officer Barbara Meyer at 061 043 1298 or 082 897 8176 or by emailing barbara.meyer@cmh.org.za. 

Cape Mental Health is an award-winning organisation, recognised at national and international levels for our innovative mental health services to persons with emotional adjustment problems, and those with mental disability (intellectual and or psychosocial). Our mission is to provide or facilitate comprehensive, proactive, and enabling mental health care services in the Western Cape. We are committed to challenging socially restrictive and discriminatory practices affecting the mental health of all people. Our work is underpinned by a commitment to quality, excellence, and professionalism. www.capementalhealth.co.za