WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK

Read: 3 John 2

Meditation verse:

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).

It’s world day for safety and health at work and I will be focusing on mental health issues in the workplace. On March 24, 2015, news broke that a young copilot for Lufthansa’s low cost-airline Germanwings had intentionally crashed a passenger jet into the French Alps, killing himself, 144 passengers and 5 other crew members.

The young co-pilot, who had previously been treated for suicidal tendencies and declared “unfit to work” by a doctor, kept this information from his employer and reported for work. Shortly after reaching cruising altitude, whilst the captain was out of the cockpit, he locked the cockpit door and initiated a controlled descent until the aircraft collided with a mountainside. He was not suffering from a physical ailment when he plunged that aircraft into the French Alps, he was suffering from a mental health issue. Investigations revealed he had been suffering from deep depression. One member of an organization had a mental health issue, but many paid dearly for it.

Organizations tend to focus on physical health much more than they do on mental health, maybe because physical conditions are visible to the naked eye whilst mental health issues aren’t, but they are as damaging, if not more so. Before Covid, employee mental health was arguably treated as an afterthought. Discussions on employee wellbeing and mental health are no longer exercises in futility. They should be a core part of HR concerns in the post covid workplace.

Our workplaces need to normalize discussions on mental health and address issues around it directly and persistently. That way employees will be encouraged to seek support when they feel the need to. Employee Assistance Programs should adequately provide the essentials needed to support employees. Line managers now have an expanded role, they would need to be trained with the counselling skills needed to respond to and care for their teams. Leadership at all levels must model a caring and inclusive culture through their communications and day to day actions. Mental health at work is now mainstream. Happy World Day for Safety and Health at Work

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Oke Chinye.
Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart?

He says in Mathew 11:28, “come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He longs to give you rest."

Would you like to do so now? Here’s a prayer you can say:
Dear Jesus, I believe that You died to save me from all my sins. Today, I invite you into my heart and I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive all my sins and help me to live my life for You.

If you prayed this prayer, send me an email at rockteachingministry@gmail.com

I would love to pray with you personally and send you a copy of my book; ‘Living the Life’ to encourage you as you begin your new life in Christ.