Hello colleagues, dear Member States. Happy World Mental Health Day!
Thank you very much to everyone who participated. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to all the participants of the WHO Mental Health Forum who are joining us today. welcome. Thank you for devoting your time and expertise to improving mental health and well-being around the world.
As you know, the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is mental health in the workplace.
Work plays a very important role in a person’s mental health, providing a sense of identity and purpose and, of course, income.
However, mental health can also be adversely affected through bullying and harassment, sexual violence, inequality and discrimination, racism, hard work, low wages, and toxic cultures.
I know that, like me, many of you are proud to work for WHO. You believe in what we do, and rightly so. WHO is a very fulfilling and rewarding place to work.
But let’s stop pretending. The WHO is also a stressful place to work, especially when we were in the middle of a storm during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with so much going on right now.
Due to the nature of our work, the risks can be high, the workload heavy, and the pressures high.
And in some cases, it’s not just the job that causes stress, but the workplace as well.
As you know, one of the main objectives of the WHO transformation is to build a workforce that is diverse, motivated, empowered and fit for purpose.
Because you are WHO’s greatest asset.
Although we have made some progress, we recognize that we still have a long way to go.
We understand that short-term contracts, especially 60-day rolling contracts, can be a source of stress for many of our employees.
My friends and colleagues know people who can’t even rent a house because their contracts are short. Imagine how stressful that would be for someone who can’t even find a home in Geneva.
We are doing everything we can to change that.
Our contract reform aims to offer a transition from continuous short-term contracts to more stable solutions.
Of course, this issue has to do with how our organization is funded. Short-term, unpredictable financing means short-term, unpredictable contracts, and uncertainty and volatility in contracts.
As I mentioned earlier, with our Member States’ commitment to increase assessed contributions, we have made good progress towards more predictable and sustainable financing.
This is very historic and I would like to thank our Member States for the increased valuation.
This investment round also aims to secure upfront funding for the next four years. I would also like to thank all member states for approving this.
But changing the way an organization raises money takes time. When I started, I knew it would take a long time. So, too, will the transformation of our contract form.
There are a number of other measures we have taken over the past few years to support the mental health of our staff.
For example, we have hired additional staff counselors who can provide individual and group sessions.
A new employee assistance program provides confidential access to outside counseling for co-workers and qualified dependents.
We regularly host webinars with external mental health experts on topics such as work-life balance, stress management, managing loss and grief, and parenting children with disabilities.
Our workplace mental health app provides practical mental health self-care advice and stress management guidance for co-workers and their loved ones.
The app also provides an overview of WHO Mental Health Support Teams across the region and highlights relevant events and webinars.
We also ensure that mental health and well-being services are covered by our employee health insurance program.
We work closely with managers and supervisors to provide basic training to support employees living with a mental health condition, including ensuring manageable workloads, ensuring the mental health of team members. We will prevent risks to.
As you know, every Thursday afternoon, my door is open to any colleague who can come to me with any concerns they may have.
So if you are struggling with your mental health, there is no need to suffer in silence. Please talk to anyone, including me.
Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for your efforts for the people of the world.
As always, I’m proud to be your colleague and WHO.
