Loss of production due to stress and mental anxiety

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about both mental and physical healthrelated issues and although Malta fared comparatively well and didn’t procrastinate with too many lockdowns, many people chose to stay at home in a bid to reduce the chances of contracting the virus or out of fear of spreading the virus

In view of this, many employees worked from home while many of those who lived alone were deprived of interacting with others. It is logical to note how the Chamber of Commerce believes that the effect of the pandemic on vulnerable persons cannot be ignored and reports from employers on emergency response show that the situation can still be better managed.

The Chamber called for community-based mental healthcare for early intervention as well as increased investment in emergency services and short-term improvement in certain areas of Mount Carmel Hospital. A working document emphasises the importance of appropriate care in the sensitive initial stages of a crisis. Ideally, it says, family doctors should guide people to overcome stigma into pre-emptive layers of community care to reduce the quantity of acute mental health crises.

Some community mental health teams exist but need resourcing, and sadly Gozo has none. It goes without saying that as an island state, resilience and preparedness are key, even though no one could have ever imagined Covid will result in such disruption on a global scale. The pandemic, however, gave well-being an added dimension.

We have moved on from just the physical aspect to encouraging firms to harness a responsibility for a working environment that is more holistic including caring for the physical, emotional, mental, financial, social and purpose of the employees.

Remote-working and flexibility, coupled with technological advances, make us more contactable and accessible (such as Zoom, Teams and Skype), yet these have brought on new stresses on the mental wellbeing of employees. Add to this, the distinction between home and office, which has become clouded causing mental fatigue at times. Covid-19 has further heightened the need for businesses to move away from a strict hierarchical formation to function more like a democracy. In the new scenario, employees are empowered to take tough decisions, sometimes away from the comfort of formal office environment.

There are new challenges and disruptions brought about by the pandemic, but equally so by the digital, green economies. It is a well known fact that most people with mental health problems, once diagnosed and treated by their GP, will fully recover. On the mend, they continue to work productively. In fact, evidence shows that staying in work while feeling sick can exacerbate work-related stress. This needs to be avoided.

It is important for the HR department to undertake regular interviews with staff and note if workers:

• are not able to cope with the demands of their jobs

• are unable to control the way they do their work

• don't receive enough information and support

• are having trouble with relationships at work, or are being bullied

• don't fully understand their role and responsibilities

• are not engaged when a business is undergoing change

It is no secret that stress affects people differently; what stresses one person may not affect another. In Malta, there have been studies which show how stress levels are on an upward trajectory since the onset of the pandemic.

Respondents were asked to estimate their stress levels and why some refuse to ask for help for fear of being marginalised. Some are concerned about stigmas related to getting mental health services.

On the contrary, when digital mental health programmes are on board, this gives employees faster access to the behavioural health services and support they need, so they can reduce their symptoms, decrease the mental health stigma and feel better. On-demand, virtual support programmes reach more patients at their time of need while reducing the strain on the healthcare system.

One may ask, what is the cost in lost productivity of increased incidence of stress and mental illness at work? This impacts business’ productivity and bottom line due to lost productivity and absenteeism. These factors appear to be more acute during the pandemic and will likely be here long after the pandemic has subsided. For reasons, discussed earlier, during the pandemic, companies did find it hard to look after their workers’ mental health and wellbeing.

This was partly because of lockdowns as was experienced in hotels and restaurants and English-teaching schools, when the flow of tourism was blocked. Another example is when schools are shut and parents are working from home while also taking care of their children. This means working longer hours, being under pressure and have additional childcare responsibilities. Workers need to support their well-being by:

• stay in contact with people – talk to your colleagues or friends about how you are feeling

• have a routine so you plan in advance what you'll be doing each day

• keep active and exercise

• make time for activities you enjoy

• reflect on what helps you feel more positive and what does not

As stated earlier, during the pandemic when both parents are working from home, this can be isolating and challenging for some. This might still be the case if you started working from home because of the pandemic and that arrangement has now become more permanent.

One of the remedies is to keep in touch with other people at work. You may want to think of ways you can keep social contact, for example by having coffee breaks or doing online social activities to talk about things outside of work. From what we have seen females are more prone to reporting psychological problems, but studies also reveal how certain workers are in stressful work environments yet refrain from reporting their feelings. The next question to ask is how acute is the mental health prognosis for Malta.

According to recent World Health Organisation studies, it is estimated that close to 120,000 people in Malta are living with a mental disorder. Local data shows that around 150 deaths per year are attributable to mental and behavioural disorders, which include two to three suicides per month. The current pandemic has added an unprecedented challenge to mental health and well-being by causing anxiety, stress, depression and isolation.

This points to the need for more awareness among workers and unions to safeguard the wellbeing of an aging population.