A medical consultant in Psychiatry, Dr. Adegbite Temilade has emphasized the critical role of sound mental health in occupational performance during a health seminar delivered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
Delivering a lecture titled, “Optimizing Occupational Well-Being: Strategic Approaches to Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace” at the Professor Rahman Bello Auditorium, Dr. Adegbite highlighted mental health as a fundamental factor to employee efficiency and organizational success.
Referencing the World Health Organization’s definition of health, Dr. Adegbite stressed that good health extends beyond the absence of disease. It involves an individual’s ability to realize their potential, cope with life’s stresses, work productively, and contribute to their community.
Her presentation identified key workplace mental health challenges, including: Stress and psychological disorders, negative work environments, inadequate health and safety policies, poor communication, and limited employee decision-making participation.
Dr. Adegbite identified potential mental health symptoms, such as persistent sadness, confusion, excessive fears, mood changes, and withdrawal from social activities. She went ahead to recommend comprehensive strategies for the optimization of the mental health of individuals such as: implementing employee assistance programmes, provision of access to mental health services, offering of flexible work arrangements, balancing workloads, conducting mental health awareness training, and developing supportive leadership approaches.
The Deputy Registrar, Directorate of Human Resources and Management Development, Mr. Afolabi Yusuf, represented the Vice-Chancellor at the event. He commended the leadership of NASU-UNILAG for organizing the event for its members. According to him, it was a noble effort that fits well with the commitment of the University Management to promote a health-friendly working environment for all members of staff in order for them to attain personal and professional fulfilment.
The seminar was organized by the UNILAG Branch of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). The NASU-UNILAG Chairman, Comrade Abiodun Noah, appreciated the Management for its support of programme, showered praises on the presenter for her very-rounded delivery, and gave kudos to all members of the Union who took out time to take advantage of the life-saving knowledge shared at the seminar.
The event was attended by many university officials, physically and virtually, highlighting the growing recognition of the importance of mental health in professional settings.
Author: Akinola Afolabi
