But what is mental health anyway?
Mental health is one of today’s most talked-about topics. It’s widely debated, but often without a clear understanding of its true meaning. The World Health Organization (WHO) presents an integrative and holistic definition, defining mental health as a “state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”
It’s crucial to emphasise that mental health goes far beyond mental disorders. We’re not just talking about the absence of a specific illness; it also involves the ability to lead a balanced life, face adversity with resilience, and maintain a sense of purpose. Health – and mental health, specifically – is the result of diverse biological, psychological, social, economic and cultural interactions. Together, these factors can either protect or harm our health. By better understanding what mental health involves, we can adopt more conscious and effective attitudes and behaviours to preserve our well-being, thus promoting a healthier and more resilient society.
Mental health: a trend or a post-COVID priority?
In recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has become a major topic in many discussions, both in personal and professional contexts. However, there’s an important question: are we just witnessing a trend? Or does greater awareness of this topic effectively reflect a significant and necessary change regarding the way we address emotional and psychological well-being?
Before the pandemic, mental health was already an important domain, but still undervalued. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, many people faced isolation, fear, and uncertainty about the future. The psychological impact of the pandemic was quite significant, affecting millions of people, highlighting essential issues about the importance of caring for our mental health. The increased visibility of mental health after the pandemic has been driven by a genuine need, fuelled by the emotional overload experienced by so many. The pandemic acted as a catalyst for raising awareness of the topic. The focus on mental health should translate into the creation of more robust public policies concerning the prevention and implementation of mental health strategies that help individuals and society cope with future crises, promoting both individual and collective resilience. Hence, to ensure that mental health remains a priority, we must make sure that discussions and actions on the topic continue, evolve, and are genuinely integrated into our daily lives.
What has changed for people?
Considering the challenges that emerged during the pandemic, we must address the changes in how we understand well-being. In the post-pandemic period, there was effectively a greater general concern to find “our” balance. Stress, anxiety and social isolation led us to reflect on the need to prioritise our mental health, and to find mechanisms to preserve our well-being.
In fact, in Portugal, we have witnessed a greater demand for psychology and psychiatry services and concepts like occupational stress and burnout are already widely known among the population. Mental health is no longer a taboo, with society and individuals becoming more open to acknowledging and discussing psychological issues.
In terms of people’s relationship with their work, and although the constraints imposed by COVID-19 no longer exist, we can acknowledge the benefits of more flexible work schemes, e.g., hybrid or teleworking. The personal-professional life balance is no longer considered a luxury, but a priority, with a greater appreciation of work environments that promote flexibility and adaptation to the specificities and needs of each person. We are currently seeing a redefinition of priorities, with aspects that are no longer negotiable when choosing a workplace.
Should companies adopt new ways of working?
COVID-19 also created a series of constraints to the normal operation of organisations. During the pandemic, the labour market had to adapt very quickly to new ways of working. Many workers have adopted hybrid or teleworking schemes, which were previously the exception for most professions; working hours have become more flexible, as employees are now performing their tasks in the same spaces as their families; information and communication technologies have become essential tools; and, finally, there has been a reduction in bureaucracy alongside the digitalisation of processes and operations.
In light of these changes, the question is whether institutions should adopt these new ways of working permanently – if possible – or whether a return to the pre-COVID way of working is feasible. We believe that the first option is the most practical. People now value this new way of working, particularly the ability to work from any location and with greater flexibility in their schedules and embracing this change could advance organisations’ competitiveness. If institutions effectively value the well-being of their workers and want to retain them, they must meet their needs and specificities, providing more autonomy in defining their workplace.
References:
[1] WHO (2022). Mental health fact sheets. Available here: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
[2] Eurofound (2022), The rise in telework: Impact on working conditions and regulations, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Available here: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/publications/2022/rise-telework-impact-working-conditions-and-regulations
By Susana Rodrigues and Rita Cardoso
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