In cooperation with the Ministry of Community Development, the Authority launched a guide to promoting positive mental health in the workplace and implemented a series of activities related to promoting mental and moral health for federal government employees, under the title “Employee Quality of Life”, as part of its celebration of the World Mental Health Day, which is held on 10th October annually.
The guide to promoting positive mental health in the workplace aims to assist officials in ministries and federal entities to improve the quality of life of their employees, and to enhance the government workplace environment in order to be more positive, pleasant and productive.
In this regard, H.E. Laila Obaid Al Suwaidi, Acting Director-General of the Authority, explained that the launch of the guide coincides with the World Mental Health Day, which the UAE celebrates annually, and our wise leadership has always emphasized the importance of this topic, which is a necessary and an integral part of physical or public health.
Al Suwaidi pointed out that the guide reflects the extent of the existing cooperation between the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Community Development, in order to achieve the higher interests, and to ensure the realization of the visions and aspirations of our wise leadership towards improving and raising the standards of quality of life, and ensuring job well-being in a work environment, to become more attractive and motivate talents and competencies.
The launch of the guide to promoting positive mental health in the workplace came as part of the activities launched by the Ministry of Community Development, in cooperation with partners for quality of life at the country level. Such activities included sessions and educational activities and initiatives that support the provision of positive mental health in work environments, at the family and community levels.
The guide determines the mechanism for providing psychological support to employees within 5 main axes based on the principle of establishing a more open culture about mental health at work. These axes include: knowing the extent of the impact of mental health on employees, including mental health coverage as part of the entity’s initiatives, and part of the employee’s health care plan, establishing programs to assist employees with regard to mental health, spreading a culture of mental health necessity, and finally promoting well-being that ensures access to applications to reduce stress and field training on supportive tools for mental health, work-life balance, and creating opportunities for building relationships between employees.
Quality Measures, Policies and Initiatives
H.E. Laila Obaid Al Suwaidi confirmed that the United Arab Emirates was and still is one of the countries in the world that pays special attention to the mental and moral health of members of society. This is manifested in its best form through the qualitative measures, policies and initiatives launched by the country respectively, with the aim of enhancing the well-being and quality of life of members of society, taking care of their mental health, and securing a decent life for them.
Al Suwaidi indicated that the country’s interest in the physical and psychological health of members of society stems from its firm belief that the human element is its most precious resource at all, and the strengthening of its leadership and global competitiveness can in any way only be through its active and positive participation in the process of comprehensive sustainable development. This can only be achieved by taking care of human psychological, mental and physical health, and providing him with all the elements of comfort and means of well-being.
Her Excellency explained that the UAE government is a global model for caring for the mental and physical health of employees, and this is not evidenced by its experience during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the government set the health and safety of employees and customers at the top of its priorities and launched many pioneering initiatives that had the greatest impact in undermining the repercussions of the pandemic on various work sectors and areas of life in the country.
H.E. Laila Obaid Al Suwaidi stated that the governments of the world have become more aware than ever before of the importance of investing in the mental and moral health of employees. It is no wonder, as we live in an era characterized by its rapid changes and increasing pressures, which may negatively affect the psychological and physical health of employees, and consequently their productivity and levels of job well-being. This is something that should draw the attention of governments and institutions in order to find solutions and initiatives to provide a healthy work environment for employees, taking into account and balancing their needs, professional aspirations, and life requirements.
Providing Psychological Support and Counselling
Salwa Abdullah, Director of Projects and Programs Department at the Authority, confirmed that the Authority was aware from an early age of the importance of mental health for federal government employees and their family members, and the importance of achieving the required balance between work and personal life. It had several initiatives in this regard, most notably the launch of the program of support and psychological and moral support for federal government employees “Hayat”, in cooperation with specialized centers to provide support and advice in the field of mental health.
She pointed out that the idea of the “Hayat” program is based on providing psychological support and counselling to federal government employees and their families, free of charge, through several channels designated for this purpose, while ensuring privacy and complete confidentiality.
3 Days of Events and 1700 Participants
FAHR implemented a series of activities on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day, providing a benefit to more than 1,700 participants. Those activities extended to three days and included: (The launch of the psychological and moral support program for federal government employees “Hayat” in its new look, and it was held in cooperation with its strategic partners from institutions and centers specialized in the field of mental health, a series of virtual awareness workshops on the importance of mental health, and creating a balance between personal life career, and how to build a healthy quality of life, and ways to overcome stress, anxiety and depression).
Several partners of the psychological and moral support program for federal government employees “Hayat” participated in the presentation of the workshops, which are Life Works Company, “Hakini” Platform and “Takalam” Platform.
Periodic Awareness Bulletins on Mental Health
FAHR intends to launch a series of periodic awareness electronic bulletins for federal government employees on the importance of mental health, through the Human Resources Information Management System in the Federal Government “Bayanati” and the Authority’s accounts on social media websites. The bulletins will include tips and instructions for employees and officials on how to create a positive work environment that promotes aspects of mental health, and ways to achieve a balance between personal and professional life, which will positively reflect on employees’ productivity and their levels of job well-being.
Source: Federal Authority for Government Human Resources