How stress, the silent killer, is taking its toll

Mental health should be legitimate ground for leave, experts say

Employees suffering from stress and mental health problems still face a stigma in the workplace, which can worsen their health, UAE-based experts have warned.

Their comments follow Dubai Health Authority’s recent adoption of a comprehensive mental health strategy as an integral part of the Dubai health strategy 2016-2021.

The strategy includes community outreach programmes, mental health specialists at primary health centres to counsel and treat patients, and remove stigmas about mental health issues.

Dr Saliha Afridi, clinical psychologist and managing director at Light House Arabia, said workers are under pressure to pretend to be happy even when they are at the breaking point.

The situation is causing ‘presenteeism’, which is when the employee comes to work but is “mentally absent”, Dr Afridi said.

Mohammad Al Hawari, managing director of Takaful Emarat Insurance, said managers need to be made aware of the long-term adverse effects of depression and stress “in order to see the benefits of allowing their employees time off for mental health and self-care”.

While the world is programmed to primarily focus on physical health and well-being, it is a fact that in the last few decades, mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression have increased multifold and impaired the ability of millions to function soundly in the workplace or home.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health difficulties cost the global economy about $1 trillion in lost productivity. At work, most employers are more likely to give sick leave for a flu rather than for someone who says they are experiencing severe stress. At home too, taking a break due to a headache is more acceptable than for feeling low.

Recognising the severe impact of mental health issues and the importance of raising awareness about them, Dubai Health Authority adopted a comprehensive mental health strategy as an integral part of the Dubai health strategy 2016-2021. This includes community outreach programmes, hands-on mental health specialists at primary health centres who will help counsel and treat and also remove stigmas and taboos about mental health issues, among other things.

Are you mentally fit?

To be mentally fit means having the ability to live life being fully engaged with it and being able to experience the range of emotions without buckling in, says Dr Saliha Afridi, clinical psychologist and managing director at Light House Arabia.

“It is when you can feel balanced (more often than not) and bring your whole self to whatever you are doing in order to fulfil your potential.

“Very often, people think that it is important to paste a smile on one’s face in order to look well-adjusted and in a truce position in society. People misconstrue the idea of happiness and think that in order to be mentally fit, they have to be ‘happy all the time’,” Dr Afridi said.

This, she said, puts a lot of pressure on them and when they do experience difficult emotions, they begin to think that there is something ‘wrong’ with them.

“This is not the case — happiness [does not exclude] feeling sad, stressed, grief, loss, anger, and all the difficult feelings. What makes the difference is that people are able to experience the full range of emotions but not drown in

them. It is not about feeling good, but about getting good at feeling,” explained Dr Afridi.

How to handle mental health issues

Dealing with a person exhibiting a mental health issue is a long-term challenge, said Dr Afridi. Depending on the severity of the issues, the treatment recommendations would be different.

“Depression and anxiety have brief, as well as longterm treatment solutions. The point is that if you feel that there is something holding you back, it does not have to stay that way. Address it, learn the skills to work through and get to the place where you are proud of the life you live,” said Dr Afridi.

“Mental health need not be perceived as a weakness. People need to reconsider the way they look at mental health and address it as they do with their physical health — and take a preventive approach.”

Many people do not know or want to admit that they are stressed, depressed or anxious, she said. “Only when their work and personal lives start to become dysfunctional are they ‘forced’ to get help.”

Very often, people think that it is important to paste a smile on one’s face in order to look well-adjusted and in a truce position with society.”

Dr Saliha Afridi |

Clinical psychologist