CSIF INFORMS YOU
10O-World Mental Health Day: CSIF denounces the high stigmatization of workers with mental health illnesses, the low investment in public health services and demands more resources.
CSIF requires Health Promotion and Workplace Wellbeing Plans
BREAKING DOWN MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA IN THE WORKPLACE
World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2024.
The Independent Trade Union Center and Civil Servants (CSIF)the most representative union in public administrations and with a growing presence in the private sector, commemorates the World Mental Health Day this Thursday, October 10, under the motto “Breaking down mental health stigmas in the workplace”. To this end, we have launched an awareness campaign and denounce the high stigmatization of working people with mental health illnesses and the low investment and resources in mental health in public health services, since there is no provision sufficient economic resources to hire professionals, nor have minimum ratios been established.
Furthermore, we warn that The waiting list to be evaluated by psychiatric services is two months on average. (although in Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha it can take up to 4 and 5 months, respectively, for the first consultation and in Aragon, up to 9 months). On the other hand, the period to be received by clinical psychology professionals is about four months, and can reach up to six in Cantabria and Castilla y León and one year in Aragon.
Spain has an average of 6 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants, a figure much lower than the European average (18 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants). For its part, the number of psychiatrists in public health is also limited, which aggravates the problem of insufficient care.
He mental health stigma at work consists of having to disguise in the workplace, mental health problems due to fear of being fired, discriminated against, harassed or that it could affect their professional career. It represents great damage to organizations, since it is an indicator of the work environment. Professionals do not perceive that the company is a safe place where they can openly express that they have a health problem, whether or not it influences their performance.
In Spain, around 19% of the population suffers from some mental illness throughout their lives. According to data from the Ministry of Health and other sources, it is estimated that one in five people experiences some type of mental disordersuch as depression, anxiety or more serious disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
In 2023, Spain reached a historical record in sick leave due to psychological problems, registering almost 600,000 temporary disabilities related to mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression. This number increased by 13.6% compared to the previous year and is more than double compared to the figures from seven years ago. These disorders represent approximately 8.2% of the total sick leave in the country.
The main causes of these problems are linked to work stress, job insecurity, work overload and difficulty in balancing work. In Spain, the cost associated with sick leave due to psychological problems is projected to be more than 30 billion euros in 2023, which represents more than two points of the country’s GDP.
Seldom a psychological sick leave is recognized as a work accidentpsychosocial management continues to have many shortcomings and there is a lack of psychological support for professionals. The mental health costs related to absenteeism exceed those derived from any other type of illness.
In Spain, suicide numbers They are alarming year after year; in 2023according to provisional data from the INE, 3,952 people committed suicidebeing 2,952 men and 1,000 women. Compared to 2022, there has been a slight decrease of 6.5% but the figures reflect that mental health management in Spain continues to be deficient, since an average of 11 people die per day.
Faced with this health crisis in mental health, CSIF considers urgent also address in the workplace the Challenges to employee well-being, mental health at work and suicide prevention. Thus, the early detection of psychological problems would not only be from primary care and mental health services but also from Occupational Health. In this way, it must be established an effective professional support network that provides comprehensive and quality care. We consider that it is also a priority strengthen public health services, as we have requested from the Minister of Health.
In our CSIF Cabinet helps There are more and more cases that request psychological support due to their work situation.
To learn more information about health promotion and workplace well-being, CSIF has launched the survey “How do you feel?” to assess the situation of professionals regarding measures to promote health and work well-being in administrations and companies.
CSIF claims urgent action Government to manage this health crisis in mental health and include the following measures among your actions in the workplace:
- Provide larger budget for Public Health Services to increase the pipeline of mental health professionals.
- Update of the table of occupational diseases, including ‘burned worker syndrome’ (‘burnout’)mental disorders and other behavioral disorders, such as post-traumatic stress, in line with the recommendation of the European Commission and the World Labor Organization (ILO) in 2010.
- Unlocking in the recognition of mental disorders work-related accidents.
- Health promotion plans, work well-being and prevention of suicidal behavior.
- Rehabilitation and return to work policies after long-term sick leave.
- Employee psychological support programs.
- Psychoeducation programs: emotional management, mental health management, etc..
- Awareness campaigns to reduce stigmatizationmental health awareness and promoting a compassionate and inclusive culture.
- Effective protocols for preventing harassment, discrimination and violence.
- Development of the ILO Convention 190 on the eradication of violence and harassment in the world of work.
- Include the criterion of “profession” in the records of completed suicidesboth national and regional.
“BREAKING DOWN MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA IN THE WORKPLACE”
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More information in our section: Prevention.
Canary Islands, October 9, 2024.
CSIF, autonomous sector of the Canary Islands