Mental Health: The Silent Crisis You Can't Afford to Ignore

The workplace, where many of us spend most of our waking hours, has become a breeding ground for stress and anxiety. Unrelenting deadlines, financial pressures, job insecurity, and lack of work-life balance, mix with the tone of your micromanaging boss contribute to an overwhelming mental burden.

Mental health issues are far more common than many realize. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 1 billion people around the world suffer from mental health disorders, making mental illness one of the leading causes of disability globally. These disorders—ranging from depression to anxiety—affect people from all walks of life, transcending borders, cultures, and economic backgrounds

October 10th marks World Mental Health Day, a timely reminder that mental health is more important than ever before. With the growing pressures of modern life, massive overflow of useless information, social media, political and economic instability, climate change, and social isolation, mental health has become a global concern. Yet, despite its profound impact, the urgency of addressing mental health, especially in the workplace, is often overlooked. This article seeks to explore why mental health at work is the silent crisis we must confront, offering facts and insights into the depth of the problem, and what we can do to change it.

Even in high-income countries like the United States, mental health challenges are widespread. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness, a striking 23.1% of the adult population. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the situation, causing global rates of anxiety and depression to surge by 25% between 2020 and 2021. The ripple effects of this crisis are still being felt today

In Africa, the situation is particularly alarming. Mental health disorders are vastly underreported, with many countries facing a severe shortage of resources to tackle the issue. Over 75% of people with mental health conditions in low-income countries receive no treatment at all.

In Tanzania, the situation is dire, with only 0.04 psychiatrists and 0.005 psychologists per 100,000 people. In total, there are only 0.3 mental health workers (including nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists) per 100,000 people—leaving enormous gaps in care for those who need it most.

Ummy Mwalimu, Tanzania’s former Minister of Health, in 2022, during the country’s first-ever national mental health dialogue, pointed out a critical issue: “Inadequate financing for mental health remains our biggest limitation. Government spending on mental health—globally and in Tanzania—falls far below the recommended US$2 per person. Mental health services are also often excluded from national health insurance schemes, exacerbating the problem.”

The Unseen Crisis at Work

Free internet access at work was once a benefit, but now it has become a trap. Social media platforms, designed to hold our attention, are instead draining our focus and slowly eroding our mental health. The boundaries between work and personal life have blurred, with employees, once fully engaged, now find themselves drifting through maze of endless notifications, likes, and mindless scrolling—all during work hours. The mental exhaustion of staying plugged in, coupled with unrealistic comparisons online, adding to already demanding workload, is fueling a silent epidemic of anxiety, depression, and burnout

According to a rapid report (Age of First Smartphone/Tablet and Mental Wellbeing Outcomes), younger generations, particularly today’s 18-24 year olds who were the first to grow up with smartphones, experience worse mental health outcomes the earlier they got their first device.

Interestingly, the 2023 "Mental State of the World" report ranks Tanzania among the top three nations for mental health, largely because of its relatively low internet penetration—only 36.8 million out of 60+ million people have access. In contrast, countries like the U.S., with over 90% internet penetration, face far worse mental health outcomes. This stark contrast should serves as a reminder: as we advocate for digital rights and expanded internet access, we must approach it with care, knowing the profound impact it can have on mental well-being

The economic cost of ignoring mental health is staggering. It is estimated that 60% of the global population is in work, but unfortunately, a shocking 12 billion working days are lost each year due to depression and anxiety. This results in a financial loss of around US$ 1 trillion annually in lost productivity.

If left unaddressed, the Lancet Commission warns that mental health conditions could cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030. These costs include healthcare services, reduced quality of life, and the direct economic impact of lost productivity.

In sub-Saharan Africa, mental health issues are tied to lower productivity and higher poverty rates, trapping individuals and communities in a cycle of economic hardship.

In the workplace, the stakes are even higher. Burnout, stress, and untreated mental health conditions can erode productivity and lead to higher rates of absenteeism. But more importantly, it erodes people’s well-being, leading to long-term suffering and, tragically, in some cases, suicide.

Globally, suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally, These WHO statistic that shows how vulnerable young people are to mental health struggles. Over 720,000 people die by suicide every year, which means someone takes their own life every 40 seconds. For every suicide, there are 20 attempts.

In the time it has taken you to read this article, more than 8 people have died by suicide, and over 160 have attempted to take their lives by drinking poison, hanging or shot themselves. Scary? right?, I dont think so.

What is more scary to me is that according to UN Office on Drugs and Crime murder only cost the lives of around 440000 people globally(exclude wars). This means that for every murder that occurs globally, there are more than 1.6 suicides.

This means that more people choose to take their own lives than are killed by others. It is a silent epidemic, often underreported and misunderstood, but it affects every region and demographic around the world.

Though horrifying, murder rates are comparatively lower and often receive more media attention because of their criminal nature. However, the focus on murder can overshadow the silent crisis of suicide, which affects even more people.

What Needs to Change

There is no quick fix, but there are concrete steps we can take to address this growing crisis at work.

As individuals, organizations, and governments, we need to prioritize mental health. WHO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have created a comprehensive Mental Health at Work Policy Brief to help guide employers on how to create healthier, more supportive work environments. You can access it here: https://www.ilo.org/publications/mental-health-work

We can also adapt and domesticate the United Nations System Mental Health and Well-being Strategy for 2024 and Beyond to fit our organisational and social specific needs. The strategy outlines a holistic approach to mental well-being and can be found here: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_system_mental_health_and_well_being_strategy_for_2024.pdf

Any Last Words?

Of course, congratulations on making it to the end of this article, but before you go, let me remind you this, by the time you've reached the end of this article, more than 10 people around the world have already taken their own lives, and over 200 others have attempted suicide. Let that sink in—within just these 7

minutes, the silent epidemic of suicide has claimed lives and left.

Please don't start calculating how many people have committed suicide since you woke up today.