In light of the rising mental health challenges faced by workers, the Zumojo Foundation (Korle-Bu) is calling on employers to mandate work-free days beyond public holidays.
Paa Kwesi Abel, a Peer Counselor with the foundation, emphasized during an appearance on ABC IN THE MORNING that mental health in the workplace deserves greater attention.
“We should have company policies that allow our workers to go out and have a week off. It should be mandatory to some extent,” Abel stressed, citing the importance of providing mental breaks to help rejuvenate employees.
Abel highlighted the benefits of exploring local tourism as a way to alleviate work-related stress.
“There are so many amazing places in Ghana that you can visit and tour around. You don’t have to go to expensive places,” he noted, stressing that a simple retreat can have a profound effect on workers.
“You will realize that when you go back to your formal places, you feel new and energized to do more work,” he added.
His comments come at a time when mental health is gaining global attention, with 970 million people suffering from mental disorders, including anxiety and depression.
As Ghana marks Mental Health Day, Abel also stressed the need for companies to engage workplace psychologists regularly. “We should have organization psychologists who should be frequent at your workplace to give workshops to your workers. I think that will be great,” he proposed.
Abel’s call for action is a timely reminder of the toll mental health issues take on the economy, with the Mental Health Authority reporting that 1 in 5 Ghanaians experience such challenges.
