Mental health: a new challenge for business productivity

As new fields of action and study develop in the labor market, various warnings are being raised, such as the effects that mental health is having on business productivity. While they may not seem connected, recent analyses show the opposite.

This is the case of a study presented by Sura, which revealed this week that in Colombia, 34.4% of people diagnosed with depression have experienced at least one absence from work, and 26.8% of those suffering from anxiety have also missed work in various organizations.

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On a global level, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 12 billion workdays are lost each year due to disorders such as depression and anxiety, representing a loss of productivity worth $1 trillion annually and posing a challenge to the labor market.

Although consolidated data exclusively for the working population in Colombia are not yet available , the most recent studies estimate rates of depressive and anxiety disorders at 474 and 1,122 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively.

“Among the main factors impacting mental health in Colombian companies are direct customer service, night shifts, excessive workload, lack of clarity in roles, and weak interpersonal relationships. The Third National Survey of Working Conditions in Colombia also highlights repetitive work and public risk as common conditions,” the report states.

In line with these findings, Sura made it clear that work environments can enhance mental health or, at times, put it at risk due to factors such as exposure to psychosocial risks, sudden events, or the after-effects of workplace accidents. In the context of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, they recommended paying more attention to this situation in the country.

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Based on all of the above, Mónica Lorena Vargas, leader of Occupational Mental Health at Seguros SURA, points out that openly discussing mental health in the workplace is key to creating more humane, sustainable, and competitive organizations, providing a starting point for addressing this challenge.

" Addressing these topics openly helps demystify mental health disorders, foster supportive cultures, and strengthen companies' ability to address the emotional challenges of their teams," she said.

In this regard, he argued that recognizing the signs of mental health, both personally and in interactions with others, allows for the activation of prevention and care mechanisms that contribute to the well-being and healthy development of the workplace.

“From an individual perspective, the worker may experience a loss of interest in daily activities, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, sleep disturbances, feelings of worthlessness or irritability, and changes in appetite,” he explained.

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Now, regarding the colleagues' perspective, he indicated that behaviors such as isolation, apathy, forgetting tasks, constant distraction, procrastination, low productivity, delays, persistent fatigue, workplace accidents, loss of confidence, tension in team relationships, or changes in personal appearance can be observed.

“During 2024, Seguros Sura's mental health helpline provided nearly 17,500 support services. Ninety percent were related to emotional crises and 10% to strengthening coping skills. That's why it's necessary to promote programs focused on mental health and psychosocial factors,” he emphasized.

Based on their experience, they recommend that workers adopt healthy rest, nutrition, and physical activity habits, organize their time, take active breaks, foster positive relationships, and respect work schedules.

For companies, he suggests strengthening leadership as a promoter of well-being, fostering a supportive culture, ensuring clarity in roles, balancing work and personal life, activating timely care pathways, and training in coping strategies and psychological first aid.