State of Mind
Zimbabwe

The background on October Health's State of Mind Report

The world is facing a growing mental health crisis.

Zimbabwe's mental health landscape is characterized by significant challenges, including a high prevalence of mental health disorders and an under-resourced healthcare system. A major factor contributing to mental health issues in Zimbabwe is economic instability, which affects a significant portion of the population through unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity, leading to heightened stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the impact of HIV/AIDS, with many families affected or orphaned by the epidemic, adds a substantial emotional and psychological burden.

Cultural stigma further complicates the problem, often preventing individuals from seeking help due to fear of discrimination or rejection. There is also a severe shortage of mental health professionals, with only a small number of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists available to serve a population of over 15 million. This scarcity results in many people not receiving the care they need.

To improve the mental health situation, Zimbabwe must enhance its mental health services through increased investment in training health professionals and integrating mental health care into primary healthcare settings for broader accessibility. Public education campaigns can help de-stigmatize mental health issues, encouraging more people to seek help when needed. By addressing these systemic issues, Zimbabwe can build a more supportive environment for mental well-being.

Businesses are suffering without realising

Poor mental health has extremely significant costs to businesses:

• Lost productivity. Employees with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders may be less productive and miss more work. This lost productivity results in lower output and revenue for businesses. Estimates suggest mental health problems reduce productivity and economic growth by up to 4% per year.
• Presenteeism. Some employees may come to work but not be fully productive due to poor mental health. This "presenteeism" still costs businesses money in the form of reduced performance and effectiveness. Presenteeism can be harder for employers to detect but can be even more costly than absenteeism.
• Higher healthcare costs. When mental health issues go untreated, they can lead to more severe health problems and higher healthcare costs. For example, untreated depression can increase the risk of chronic physical health issues, resulting in greater spending on healthcare premiums and services. Providing mental health benefits could help address issues early and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
• Recruitment and retention challenges. If a company does not provide adequate mental health support, it may struggle to attract and retain top talent. In today's market, mental health benefits and a supportive work culture are appealing to employees and candidates. When people's needs are met, they are more likely to join and stay at a company, which reduces costly turnover.
• Safety and risk issues. Poor mental health can impact judgment, focus, and decision making, which may put employee and public safety at risk in some jobs. Proactively supporting mental health and monitoring risks is important for companies where safety is a concern. Doing so could help prevent dangerous incidents and legal issues.