News
Prioritise mental health issues at workplace
Prof Ohene
Discrimination, inequality, excessive workloads, low job control and job insecurity exposes workers to some risks of developing mental health problems, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Professor Sammy Ohene, has stated.
According to him, mental health issues among workers could also lead to absenteeism and ‘presenteeism’ which affects both the individual and the organisation
He defined ‘presenteeism’ as being present but not fully productive while absenteeism was when one is missing at work.
Prof. Ohene said this at a programme organised by the Department of Psychiatry of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on the theme: ‘it’s time to prioritise mental health at the workplace.’
According to the Consultant Psychiatrist, high workloads, tight deadlines and long hours can lead to chronic stress and burnout, causing fatigue, irritability, and decreased productivity, adding that work related pressures such as job insecurity, lack of control and workplace conflicts, could trigger or exacerbate anxiety and depression.
Additionally, he noted that strained relationships with colleagues, supervisors or clients can arise from mental conditions, leading to conflicts and a toxic work environment and that employees experiencing mental health conditions may struggle with concentration, decision making and completing tasks efficiently, thereby impacting on their overall performance.
He stated that individuals with mental health conditions were particularly at risk in unhealthy workplaces while those with severe mental disorders were more likely to be excluded from employment, and if they do get employed, they were more likely to experience inequality.
Prof. Ohene also identified being out of work, recent job loss and financial insecurity as risk factors for suicide.
Moreover, he indicated that mental health issues could also manifest physically leading to headaches, stomach aches, muscle tension and other somatic complaints.
“Issues that might affect one’s mental health includes excessive workload, poor pay causing constant pressure, stigma around mental health, unsafe or poor physical working conditions, under-use of skills or being under-skilled for work, understaffing and long, unsocial or inflexible hours,” he added.
Prof. Ohene indicated that in order to prevent work related mental health conditions, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the implementation of organisational interventions that directly targets working conditions and environments.
He said these were interventions that mitigate, modify or remove risks to mental health such as flexible working arrangements, implementing frameworks to deal with violence and harassment at work.
WHO, he revealed, also recommends training for workers in mental health literacy and awareness to improve knowledge of mental health and reduce stigma against mental health conditions at work.
Also, he called for interventions for individuals to build skills to manage stress and reduce mental health symptoms, including psychosocial interventions and opportunities for leisure-based physical activity.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
