Health experts agree that we are faced with an unprecedented mental health crisis in the coming years. The world is going through significant shifts and the practices and personal lives of almost everyone have sustained high levels of uncertainty and stress. Leaders need to appreciate why holistic well-being is crucial in order for them to remain effective, this also applies to their organisations and employees, be they in the public or private sectors. Among some of the key benefits are not only a productive and healthy life, but lower health care costs for the economy as a whole in the long run.

There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the lack of investment by many countries and organisations in the well-being of their human capital. Well-being or wellness does not only include diet, exercise, healthy habits and sleep, but also encompasses emotional and mental health, social connection and the need for meaning and purpose including psychological safety. Psychological safety describes the condition in which people feel included where it is safe to learn, contribute and challenge the status quo without fear. Well-being is also linked to self-determination, a psychological concept which refers to the ability of people to make choices, manage their lives and feel that they have control over their choices and lives.

It is a fact that leading well depends on the wellness of the leaders and their employees or followers. It is true that most times leaders take their health for granted and in Africa the health and wellness of our elders is a state secret and yet it has a profound effect on their effectiveness in leading. Unfortunately leaders often neglect their own well-being in pursuit of lofty goals to their own detriment. Issues such as mental health, burnout, and fatigue are common while high blood pressure, diabetes and preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continue to have their toll.

A recent report by the World Health Organization on physical activity is quite shocking. According to WHO, almost 500 million people will develop heart disease, obesity, diabetes or other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to physical inactivity between 2020 and 2030. The Global Status report on physical activity 2022. Measures the extent to which governments are implementing recommendations to increase physical activity across all ages and abilities. The economic costs of not doing anything are huge. According to the report, the cost of treating new cases of preventable NCDs will reach $300 billion by 2030. The report calls for countries to prioritize a fitness boost in order to tackle NCDs and integrate physical activity into all relevant policies.

In order to help counties increase physical activity. WHO’s Global action plan on physical activity 2018-2030 (GAPPA), sets out 20 recommendations which include safer roads to encourage more biking and walking and providing opportunities for physical activity in key settings such as child care, schools, primary health care and the workplace.

In developing economies there is a clear under investment and lack of spending in issues of well-being. There is more focus on treatment of disease and not on prevention and as result the costs of healthcare are spiralling out of control. According to the World Bank, it is estimated that people in developing countries spend half a trillion dolls annually out of their own pockets to access basic health services. Lack of universal access to quality affordable health services threatens long term economic prospects and makes developing economies more vulnerable to pandemic risks. Developing countries are faced with serious growing burdens of the costs of treating preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and this will continue to put strain on resources. Clearly, going forward, wellness and taking a preventative strategy is no longer a luxury but must be incorporated in all sectors of any economy.

Vince Musewe is an economist and you can contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com