Onto the Next: Transforming Fresh Grads into Workplace Champions

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October 10, 2024

Writer: Dianne De Castro
Moderator: Roy Dahildahil
Spaces Moderators: Richardson Mojica, Roy Dahildahil
Graphics: Krystle Mae Labio

 

Health, according to the World Health Organization, is defined as: “… a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (WHO Constitution, 1946)

Today, October 10, is World Mental Health Day [1]. This is a movement lead by the World Health Organization (WHO) to foster safer spaces by sparking welcome conversation about mental health issues and shed light on the reality that there is #NoHealthWithoutMentalHealth .

This 2024 in particular, WHO zeroes in on opening the conversation to fostering good mental health in the workplace with the theme “Mental Health at Work.”

WHO is apt on turning the spotlight to mental health so that we could address issues and roadblocks in identifying, giving appropriate and adequate support, and empowering the 60% of the population in the workforce of the world [2].

Issues, coined as the Social Determinants of Health (i.e., racial discrimination, socioeconomic gaps, generational and cultural differences, personality intricacies), make achieving a utopia for good mental health a challenge. With this, WHO calls its stakeholders and partners to action by encouraging conversation through lending a listening ear for exchange in thoughts and extending a helping hand to support those who face life’s struggles all the while fighting to earn financial means to support themselves and their families.

This year’s campaign aims not only to foster a culture of safety in the workforce but also encourages organizations and companies to prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of their employees – their partners that drive their industry forward – which then yields to them having access to a better quality of life. A happy worker is a productive worker. And when companies take time and care and attention to their people, the people not only thrive, they give back to the company, making them an asset. Thus, this improves overall satisfaction of the people, making them happier and healthier [3].

With that said, the role of newly minted professionals graduating from university in the Philippines have such a pivotal role to play as mental health champions in the workplace. Generation Z (individuals who were born from the year 1997 to 2012) are known to aptly identify their mental health needs but have trouble bridging the gap in addressing this as this cohort greatly relies on good social support and reliable social structure to tap into help-seeking behaviors with regard to mental health difficulties [4].

According to the study published in 2023 by Shaikh, et. al., Generation Z college students seek to find belongingness in their social circle and when this need is not met, it may entail low incidences of seeking social support and professional psychological and/or psychosocial help. Thus, strengthening social bonds in the school and the home of Generation Z and generations beyond and before, will greatly help foster this sense of belongingness and purpose in these individuals, which can be a pathway to curb down suicide rates in this present time [4].

Through equipping and granting good social support with tangible organized mental health safety culture, fresh university graduates who will now transition to the work force and navigate through adulthood are now more empowered and can better face life head on, leading to better access to quality of life even beyond the workplace.

Happier people lead to healthier communities. All this needs is one small step to pause and listen and hold space for another person’s needs – which can ultimately make the world a better, kinder, and safer place to live in.

 

Session Questions: 

  1. How is the social environment in the workplace for fresh grads entering the workforce?
  2. What is it that’s available to me in the here and now in my workplace to address my mental health needs and others?
  3. How can I help myself? How can I help my co-worker in the workplace in terms of mental health?

References: 

[1]World Health Organization. (n.d.). https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day

[2]World Health Organizaiton. (2024). https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2024

[3]Muttalib, A., Danish, M., & Zehri, A. W. (2023). The Impact of Leadership Styles on Employee’s Job Satisfaction. Research Journal for Societal Issues, 5(2), 133–156. https://doi.org/10.56976/rjsi.v5i2.91

[4]Shaikh, A. N., Westcott, J. B., Franck Love, S., Flynn, L., Chang, C. Y., & Mize, M. C. (2023). Examining Help-Seeking Intentions Among Generation Z College Students. Journal of College Student Mental Health, 38(3), 500–518. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2023.2198155  

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