Nakuru: Nakuru County Government is actively implementing a range of preventive and promotional measures to address mental health and improve the well-being of its employees. The devolved unit’s Department of Public Service has acknowledged that mental health posed a challenge across all its departments, underscoring the need for immediate action.
According to Kenya News Agency, Head of Special Programmes, Ms Teresia Nyatich indicated that they were investing in several mental wellness initiatives that were friendly to employers while creating an environment that allows workers of all cadres to freely share their personal problems and challenges at workplaces. Ms Nyatich, who is a counselling psychologist, said the county government was providing psycho-educational support to its workers as there was an increasing demand for these services.
The department has launched a comprehensive campaign to sensitise employees about the dangers of alcohol and drug use, while also providing effective stress management t
echniques. This initiative has seen enforcement officers from Gilgil, Naivasha and Subukia sub-counties receiving training sessions, with a plan to extend the programme to other sub-counties, she stated. Ms Nyatich indicated that once a mental health issue is detected or suspected among employees, supervisors should act immediately, bearing in mind that this was neither a disciplinary nor human resources issue.
While acknowledging that mental health is a serious predicament in the country, she encouraged health workers to consult their superiors, peers, and family members when faced with difficult times, adding that their issues can be addressed if shared. Mental health issues such as depression, stress, burnout, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder among others are a silent pandemic afflicting public servants in large proportions that no one wants to talk about. The disorders are triggered by both work-related and social issues, the Head of
Special Programmes stated.
To create a healthy workspace, Chief Officer for Public Service Dr Charles Koech advised supervisors to understand the unique needs of individual workers and interventions needed to protect and promote mental health in the workplace. He said Governor Susan Kihika’s administration had opened up channels of communication among all cadres of employees as a way of detecting any form of stress among them and was always keen to detect any trigger that may lead to depression, stress, or mental illness and act immediately.
Supervisors should check on triggers and act immediately. Triggers may include tough assignments, financial issues, marriage wrangles, transfers, working far from friends, and exposure to stresses, Dr Koech pointed out. He warned that putting mental health of workers on the back burner means an increase in reported violent crimes, homicides, suicides, gender-based and sexual violence.
Offering access to counselling services, and mental health days, and incorporating em
ployee assistance programmes can aid employees in their struggles. One of the most visible and devastating manifestations of the mental health challenge is suicide, estimated at about four cases per day by the World Health Organisation. Dr Koech underscored the importance of developing a comprehensive plan for training staff on prevention and identifying problems that will help in reviewing the mental wellness of the affected cases.
He indicated that holding regular inclusive and cohesive meetings, training staff, and offering psychosocial support will improve mental health among staff at the workplace and reduce mental disorders that sometimes lead to suicidal tendencies. Dr Koech affirmed that employers have a responsibility to create a supportive workplace culture that promotes the well-being of the mind. Eradicating stigma around mental health is also crucial. Team leads or managers should set the tone by openly discussing mental health, normalising wellness conversations, and ensuring colleagues feel sa
fe to seek help, stated the Chief Officer.
He added that offering flexible work arrangements can reduce stress by providing options like remote working which allows employees to better manage their work-life balance. Organisations, she suggested, should also provide mental health training for managers and employees to recognise signs of distress and know how to respond to them. Secondly, our homes should be sanctuaries of peace. Over the past few years, marital issues often emerge as a top area of concern. Domestic abuse remains a pervasive issue that silently corrodes the mental health of countless individuals.
To tackle this, we must prioritise the safety of victims and provide them with resources to escape abusive situations. We also need to educate individuals about healthy relationships, consent, and communication from a young age, added the official. Counselling experts have highlighted the need to embrace open and honest conversations within the family unit explaining that seeking professional counse
lling would help in navigating complex emotions.
A recent study has revealed that many middle and top-level organisations in Kenya, including Government departments and agencies, are populated by workers who are suffering unattended from a wide range of mental illnesses, including depression, stress, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and anger. The research has also shown that these health problems cause more days of work loss and work impairment than many other chronic conditions, like diabetes, asthma, and arthritis.
Dr Koech stated that mental health and psychological services are essential for workers to perform optimally, and such services should be incorporated into organisational structures. He observed that preventive counselling occurring before workers are in crisis reduces the risk of employees slowing down a business and decreases both the recurrence of absenteeism and the number of workers involved in disciplinary cases.
Workers in organisations that have in place a sound employee assistance program
me show better appreciation of their organisation, significant understanding of career possibilities, more future orientation, increased job engagement, and greater self-efficacy than their counterparts that don’t enjoy this essential programme, he added. The official observed that workplace employer assistance programmes provide psychological therapy for employees, as troubled workers are helped by professional counsellors or therapists to confront confusing, painful, and humiliating situations in the workplace and in their own lives.
Such programmes benefit the employer in terms of reducing sick days, acting as an alternative conflict-resolution mechanism, reducing the pressure on managers of dealing with difficult staff, and earning the firm the reputation of being worker-friendly.
