Navigating Cultural Stigma: Mental Health Challenges in the Global Workplace
Stigma surrounding mental health remains a significant barrier to seeking support and accessing appropriate treatment, particularly in workplace settings. Find out how differing cultural perspectives worldwide influence this critical aspect of organizational productivity.
- Despite growing interest and awareness, political commitment and investments toward mental health services remain low around the world.
- Mental health infrastructure at workplaces is more common in developed Western countries than in the rest of the world.
The impact of mental health issues is increasingly being recognized around the world, regardless of culture or economic status. On the other hand, the measures taken toward treating these problems at workplaces vary significantly based on cultural perspectives.
In some cultures, mental health is seen through a scientific lens, considering genetic and physiological factors; other cultures view mental health problems as a matter of supernatural and spiritual aspects.
The former viewpoint is more prevalent in developed countries, which has led to awareness and access to mental health services. Regions that are lower on the economic scale continue to face significant levels of stigma associated with these problems, resulting in fewer reported cases.
Why Workplace Mental Health Support Varies Across Regions
The disparity in the levels of mental health support spans different industries and regions. While a few countries have advanced in establishing mental health policies in workplaces, others fail to do so due to cultural backgrounds or a lack of resources. Other workplaces with high-pressure environments encourage stoic mindsets rather than widely accepted mental health support systems.
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Differing Perspectives
Understanding how cultural perspectives influence mental health support can provide valuable insights for employers. Let’s look at mental health care perspectives in different parts of the world.
1. North America
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), public belief about alcohol dependence, schizophrenia, and depression has improved between 1996 and 2018, owing to changing ages and generational shifts. Furthermore, under mental health laws in the US, employees have significant protections and benefits.
Employers are limited in the questions they can ask about disabilities. Furthermore, they can only set restrictions on employees with mental health issues if they are comparable to limitations set for employees with other medical issues. The law also protects those with mental health conditions with rights to confidentiality and reasonable accommodations to meet job requirements. A growing number of employers have dedicated mental health initiatives to meet the needs of their employees.
In a survey by the NIH, approximately 50% of respondents indicated that Canadians would stigmatize someone with depression. In Canada, mental health support policies vary from province to province, owing to healthcare responsibilities being given to every state rather than as a federal law. Also, compliance with The Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace is a voluntary guideline by the Mental Health Commission of Canada that employers can follow. This has drawn criticism owing to the range of disparities in mental healthcare across regions.
While mental health support is relatively strong in the U.S. and Canada, others, including Mexico and Central America, lag significantly in this regard. Self-stigmatization has been seen as a major factor contributing to reduced help-seeking behavior, while spirituality was seen as a positive predictor.
2. Latin America and the Caribbean
Strategies for mental health support in South America and Caribbean countries are generally known. However, facilities and funding for such programs are seldom available to the public. Local cultural practices do not encourage open discussions about mental health, and individuals seeking professional help often face stigmatization.
While most countries in these regions have laws that provide care and safeguards for mental health patients, employers are not required to provide associated benefits to workers. There is significant room for improvement in the upcoming years and decades.
3. Africa
Most African countries continue to fall behind in terms of healthcare services in general, with a notable lack of facilities and funding. Consequently, it is understandable that mental health support has been primarily neglected owing to a lack of resources and unaffordability. Local laws, except for a few nations such as South Africa and Nigeria, do not provide safeguards for mental health patients. Employers are not required by law to provide mental health support policies.
Limited awareness about mental health, self-shame, and stigmatization of patients is relatively common, according to the World Health Organization. Ridicule, name-calling, and chastisement are all reactions observed in the region.
4. Europe
According to the European Commission, one in six people in the EU suffered from mental health issues before the pandemic; the figure has worsened since then. In the EU, Portugal, followed by Sweden, Germany, and Croatia, had the highest share of patients with chronic depression. According to the European Pillar of Social Rights, a set of guidelines proclaimed by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council, all workers in the region have a right to high levels of protection in terms of health, including mental issues.
An EU-OSHA survey showed that more than 40% of workers have increased work stress following the pandemic. Furthermore, the EC report found that discrimination and stigma are problems in numerous European countries, with 50% of workers worrying about a negative impact on careers following the disclosure of a mental health condition, which hinders people from seeking help.
This is especially true of Central and Eastern European countries, which have low mental health spending levels by employers and governments. The situation is better in Western European countries, with employers conducting awareness campaigns with regard to anti-discrimination laws and running workplace interventions.
5. Asia
Asian cultures have been found to treat mental health issues as an individual weakness or challenge. Discussions about depression, sadness, and disappointment are seldom encouraged. Asian individuals tend to worry more about a diagnosis when accessing mental health support, fears over the impact on their jobs, changes in the perception among their peers, and their ability to maintain employability.
According to the United States National Library of Medicine, more than 65% of survey respondents agree that patients with mental health disorders are discriminated against more than any other category of disabled individuals. About 69% of psychiatric patients have stated that mental illnesses affected job applications, with a greater stigma against patients suffering from illness for more than five years.
Patients in Japan and Singapore also face similar issues, with deep-rooted stigma being associated with mental health issues, with numerous instances of Japanese communities opposing the development of public facilities for mentally ill patients. According to conventional Japanese belief, depression is viewed as a sign of a weak personality. About 59% of Singaporean patients reported difficulty finding jobs and rejection from insurance companies.
In the case of Korea, self-stigma and instances of discrimination against the family of patients have also been noted. A similar scenario has been reported in India, with more than 50% of workers reporting mental health issues. However, only around 1 in 4 people report mental health support at workplaces. A strong link exists between stigma in the Indian culture and not wishing to work with a mentally ill individual.
6. Oceania
According to the National Survey of Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination, one in three Australians with mental health issues reported unfair treatment by friends and family, with experiences of discrimination at the workplace also being common. Around 12% of respondents stated that they were skeptical about mental health issues, and more than 30% of respondents admitted a lack of effort toward inclusivity. While there is no law to do so currently, the report also states that a majority of the Australian population would not oppose mandatory self-reporting of mental health problems at workplaces.
According to the survey, when it comes to workplace reporting, 43% reported they were treated as if they were incompetent, 34% reported they had been denied opportunities, and 17% were fired or made redundant because of their mental health problems; 43% reported people in their workplace weren’t supportive of their needs, and 22% reported they were forced to change responsibilities.
In New Zealand, 33% of individuals with mental health issues stated that they expected discrimination in the workplace. Mental health support has not been studied meaningfully in the Pacific Island nations.
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Addressing Cultural Perspectives and Stigma in the Workplace
Despite varying cultural perspectives, building support for mental health solutions requires sensitivity and a multifaceted approach. This can include training for employees and managers, improving mental health literacy, and creating an inclusive and supportive workplace environment. The expansion of domestic resources, encouraging international donors, prioritizing at-risk groups, and investments in data and research are key objectives employers can consider.
Understanding the impact of mental health on a person’s reputation and societal status is important, as is considering factors such as the belief in superstitions and the supernatural. It is also important to note that people may seek help from more traditional healers rather than trusting healthcare professionals.
Organizations can also implement policies such as flexible work arrangements and employee assistance programs that can be customized based on regional and cultural parameters. Cultural perspectives play a key role in workplace mental health policies, and a concerted effort is key to addressing the stigma associated with such issues. Recognizing and respecting varying cultural differences is important for organizations seeking to negate stereotypes and create inclusive workplaces.
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