For many people, work is a significant part of their lives as it’s where they spend much of their time, earn income, and create friendships. It is for this reason that having a supportive and exhilarating work environment is good for one’s mental health and general wellbeing, according to experts.

To raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing, and link them with professional and personal settings, and emphasize the focus on the importance of mental health in the workplace as is with physical health and overall well-being, Solid Minds, a private, independent outpatient mental health clinic in Kigali, organized a mental health workshop on May 31.

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The event that converged educators, officials from the Private Sector Federation (PSF), international and local organizations, under the theme, "Live Out Your Potential: A Focus on Mental Health, Critical to Organizational Success and Wellbeing”, highlighted the essence of staff wellness and ensuring mental health and wellness are discussed openly and honestly in the workplace.

Panelists stressed that managers should create a safe space for employees to voice their concerns through surveys and initiate training sessions on well-being topics like stress management and self-care, and work-life balance for managers and employees.

It was noted that work-life balance can be achieved by leaving work on time, not emailing out of office hours, and taking breaks.

To address mental health issues in the workplace, discussants advised having dedicated wellbeing advocates or champions within the staff

team to approach wellbeing issues, plan wellness activities or initiatives and a budget for it as an organization.

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Sam Munderere, the co-founder and CEO of Solid Minds, noted that it is paramount to raise awareness about mental health and destigmatizing conversations surrounding mental well-being in various spheres of life, including workplaces, schools, homes, and families.

He emphasize Solid Minds&039; consistent commitment to promote safe spaces for these vital discussions to eventuate without the fear of stigma.

"The reality is that as long as people are not healthy mentally, emotionally, and socially, and whichever other dimension, they cannot perform. So, the two are correlated. But I don’t think most companies see this as their own responsibility,” said Damien Mouzoun, the chief executive of Ayina Think Tank, a research-based counseling center. He highlighted the need for organizations to delegate mental health experts to offer counseling sessions to their employees in a safe environment, away from work where they can easily open up.

As noted, it is in our culture not to openly discuss issues affecting our health, which could be hard for employees to have conversations about their mental health. It is therefore advisable for employers to organize retreats to relieve stress and also initiate meditative places within the company or organize regular meditation sessions, Mouzoun added.

Dr Darius Gishoma, the Division Manager of the mental health unit at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), commended Solid Minds for organizing a crucial gathering to discuss on mental health. He highlighted the essence of open dialogue in bolstering understanding and knowledge and crucial steps in eliminating stigma surrounding mental health in diverse settings.

The dialogues extended to tackling mental health in schools, by urging educators to initiate positive mental health activities in the school programme, training leaders and educators about mental health and wellness, and how challenges manifest in the workplace and in the school setting, and most importantly, the important role parents play in the promotion of the learners’ mental health.

Munderere said, "The event was organized as a result of our work in different organizations. We realized that a number of employees were encountering challenges at work and most of those challenges were not addressed and yet they affect performance, productivity, and well-being. If work is not well managed, it can result in burnout, anxiety, depression, which hinders wellbeing in the workplace.”

He said that this is the first time such an event was organized and he is optimistic that it will open doors for similar events in the future.

Munderere pointed out that the event was an eye opener for managers who don’t prioritize mental health, or organize wellness events and sessions for their staff.

"Managers have been equipped with insights about how they can contribute to boosting the performances of employees. We can’t be healthy if we are not mentally stable. I want to stress that it is okay not to be okay, and mental health is as important as physical health. Asking for help about mental health is a sign of strength.”