Yellow September is an international campaign dedicated to raising awareness of suicide prevention and promoting mental health. The initiative originated in Brazil in 2015 and has since gained visibility across multiple countries, helping to place the issue on the public agenda and encouraging open dialogue about mental health.
In 2003, the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated 10 September as World Suicide Prevention Day — a date intended to draw attention to a public health problem that affects millions of people worldwide.
According to WHO data, more than 700,000 people die by suicide every year. The organisation regards prevention as a public health priority and underscores the importance of reducing risk factors and strengthening access to appropriate care and support.
Among the situations that can contribute to psychological distress are intense stress, moral or sexual harassment, depression, anxiety, social isolation, and other personal and professional circumstances. In the workplace, some of these situations can be compounded by excessive workloads, lack of support, conflicts, job insecurity, or the absence of a healthy work-life balance.
For this reason, addressing mental health within organisations should not be limited to one-off campaigns. It is important to create working environments where professionals can seek help, communicate difficulties, and find support without fear of discrimination or retaliation.
How to Promote Mental Well-Being in the Workplace?
Campaigns such as Yellow September can provide organisations with an opportunity to initiate or strengthen mental health promotion policies. For Human Resources and People Management functions, a number of measures can contribute to creating safer and healthier professional environments.
According to WHO data, more than 700,000 people die by suicide every year. The international body regards prevention as a public health priority and highlights the importance of reducing risk factors and strengthening access to appropriate care and support.
Awareness
Organising talks, workshops, information sessions, and other activities can help increase knowledge about mental health in the workplace.
These initiatives should prioritise accurate information, responsible language, and, wherever possible, the participation of qualified professionals. The goal is to combat stigma and encourage workers to seek support when needed.
Employee Support Programmes
Companies can establish or provide psychological support mechanisms, helplines, counselling services, or forge partnerships with specialist professionals and institutions.
Where such resources exist, it is important to ensure that workers know how to access them and that confidentiality is adequately protected.
Leadership Training
Managers and team leaders play an important role in building healthy working environments. Leadership training should therefore include competencies related to communication, conflict management, harassment prevention, and the recognition of signs of psychological distress.
Burnout prevention does not depend solely on the individual’s ability to manage stress. Working conditions and work organisation also play an important role.
Leaders should not assume the role of mental health professionals, but they need to know how to listen, respond appropriately, and refer workers to specialist support when necessary.
Open Communication
A culture of open communication can facilitate the identification of problems before they escalate.
Workers must be able to discuss work-related difficulties without fear of being penalised or stigmatised. To this end, organisations should establish secure communication channels and clear policies against any form of discrimination or retaliation.
Respecting Boundaries
Promoting a healthy work-life balance also contributes to protecting mental health. Respecting rest periods, avoiding excessive workloads, and encouraging workers to take their leave entitlement are measures that can help reduce professional burnout.
Burnout prevention does not depend solely on the individual’s capacity to manage stress. Working conditions and work organisation also play an important role.
Building a Culture of Support
A healthy professional environment is one in which workers do not feel isolated when going through difficult periods.
Fostering relationships grounded in respect, empathy, and cooperation can help reduce isolation and create a culture in which seeking help is regarded as a responsible act rather than a sign of weakness.
More than organising a campaign during September, companies can use this initiative as a starting point for developing permanent policies to promote the health and well-being of their workforce.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=544998
