Reflections on World Mental Health Day 2024: Mental Health in Every Workplace Matters

As we mark World Mental Health Day in 2024, with the theme "Mental Health at Work," it's important to reflect on the diversity of work environments around the world. The workplace is not a one-size-fits-all concept; it spans a broad spectrum of jobs and sectors, from the digital economy and office environments to informal sectors and labor-intensive fields. Whether you're a content moderator sifting through harmful online material, an Uber driver navigating congested roads, a "mama mboga" (vegetable vendor) in a busy market, or a farmer toiling in the fields, your mental well-being matters. Each of these workers, no matter their environment, needs a healthy space to thrive—because a healthy workplace is essential to good mental health.

The Diversity of Workplaces and Mental Health

It's easy to think of the "workplace" as simply an office, but that's a narrow view. The reality is that workspaces are incredibly diverse, and the challenges they present to mental health vary. Consider the market vendor who spends long hours under the sun, or the content moderator who is exposed to harmful content daily. Both these environments are very different, but both demand attention to mental health.

For example, content moderators often struggle with secondary trauma from constantly viewing disturbing material online, while market vendors or gig economy workers, such as Uber drivers, face the stress of economic uncertainty and the physical toll of long working hours. Farmers, often working in rural isolation, can face anxiety about crop yields, climate change, or economic pressures. And then there are office workers who, despite working in seemingly more controlled environments, might face stress from workload pressures, unrealistic expectations, or toxic workplace dynamics.

No matter where people work, the need for mental health support is universal.

Creating Healthy Workplaces

Through my work at Nivishe Foundation, we've been invited by various institutions and organisations to conduct mental health analyses. We make it a point to assess not just the mental health needs of individuals, but the overall work environment. It’s striking how often we find that the root cause of mental health issues within organisations isn’t necessarily the lack of training or awareness—but rather the toxic systems embedded in the workplace culture.

Many organizations seek mental health training without addressing the systemic issues that cause stress and burnout in the first place. No amount of mental health workshops will make a difference if the work environment itself remains unhealthy. If workers are dealing with toxic leadership, excessive workloads, or lack of support, the trainings become band-aid solutions rather than real change. A healthy working environment is crucial—it’s not just about ticking the boxes for mental health programs but ensuring that the workplace itself nurtures the well-being of its workers.

Capitalism and Mental Health: A Double-Edged Sword

We cannot talk about mental health in the workplace without addressing the elephant in the room: capitalism. Capitalism has created a relentless “rat race” where work is primarily about profit rather than people. Nowadays, instead of building communities and fostering connection at work, we are pushed to focus solely on productivity, competition, and exceptionalism. The result? A workplace culture that prioritizes profit over well-being.

We’ve moved away from seeing the workplace as a space for connection and collaboration—a basic human need—and instead see it as a place where our only goal is to make money. This hyper-focus on productivity leaves us feeling isolated and exhausted. In fact, if you ask people around you how they are feeling, the majority will say they are fatigued. I, too, feel that fatigue deeply.

This fatigue isn’t just personal; it’s systemic. The state of the world—the wars, the climate crisis, governance issues—also weighs heavily on us. How do we expect Sudanese refugees, for instance, to continue working as if nothing has happened after fleeing their homes? How do we lose people daily and still show up to work like everything is normal? Where is the humanity in all of this?

Systemic Changes are Key

So while we celebrate World Mental Health Day and the focus on mental health at work, we must also recognise that addressing these issues requires more than individual action. It requires systemic change. If we don’t address the larger systems, such as capitalism and toxic work cultures, no amount of mental health initiatives will make a lasting impact.

Take, for instance, the lack of green spaces in Nairobi. In a city dominated by concrete, there are few places where workers—whether office employees, market vendors, or drivers—can go to ground themselves and find rest. This "concrete jungle" exacerbates mental health issues. Nature and outdoor spaces play a significant role in mental well-being, and yet, many urban environments offer little access to these spaces.

Moving Forward

As we reflect on World Mental Health Day and the theme of mental health in the workplace, it’s clear that mental well-being is deeply interconnected with the environments we work in. A healthy work environment isn’t just about reducing stress in the moment; it’s about creating a culture of care that sustains long-term mental health. It’s about recognizing that workers are human, not just economic units, and that their well-being is tied to the systems they work within.

As we continue our work at Nivishe Foundation, we’ll keep advocating for healthier workspaces, pushing for organisations to address not only the mental health of their workers but the environments that shape their experiences. After all, mental health at work is everyone’s right—whether you’re a farmer, a driver, an entrepreneur, or an office worker.

Am envisioning workplaces that truly support mental well-being, and in doing so, create a healthier, more compassionate world for all workers.

Amisa Rashid