October 10 of every year is a reminder that mental health is the fundamental aspect of how we live, recover and build. This year, the theme of World Mental Health Day is throwing a spotlight on the often-overlooked reality – access to mental healthcare in times of emergencies and catastrophes.
For the 1.46 billion people across India, emergencies occur in many forms – from losing their loved ones during the pandemic, the quiet anxiety of financial fears, or the relentless pace of work. These experiences, though not “disastrous” as per the traditional definition, has pushed individuals into distress; and mental health support remained a far-fetched service to access.
Access During Emergencies – Beyond the Physical
Whenever we hear the word “catastrophe”, the first visual we get off is war, earthquake, or flood – which are physical. But what about the psychological distress that unfolds quietly within the office walls and laptop screens?
India is still catching up with conversations around emotional well-being and accessing healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, witnessed many experiencing grief, anxiety, and burnout but only a fraction reached out for help. The reason? It’s the awareness and acceptance.
- Awareness: A lot of people do not recognize the signs or symptoms of stress or burnout until it affects their personal and professional space.
- Acceptance: Despite progress in mental health services, stigma continues to hold people back from seeking or reaching out for help – especially in Indian workplaces.
The Workplace: A Frontline for Everyday Mental Health
The past few years has shown that workplaces are not immune to mental health emergencies. On the contrary, workplaces often are the starting point for such emergencies. The post-pandemic corporate landscape has witnessed employees juggle deliverables, deadlines, uncertainty along with personal responsibilities – all of it without a safe outlet. Adding to this, the silent expectation and pressure to “always be available” further adds to the silent storm of burnout and anxiety.
This is where psychological safety plays a vital role. A “safe workplace” is one that allows individuals to express their challenges, fears, ideas, and thoughts without retribution or fear of judgment. It also becomes the foundation on which trust and inclusion is built. When organizations invest in well-being through access to counselling, flexible work models, empathetic leadership, and inclusive policies, they prevent burnout, build resilience, and prepare for people’s emotional emergencies.
Building Access: What Needs to Change
Accessing mental health services requires a multi-layered approach – to address internal and external emergencies. Some of the ways an organization can build or develop access, include:
- Integrate mental health in workplace policies: Mental health is no longer a one-off campaign; it requires to be embedded into programs, leadership conversations, and insurance policies.
- Ensure managers lead with empathy: Leaders and managers need to identify the early signs of distress and respond to the same with compassion. This way, leaders can prevent minor stressors and triggers to becoming crises.
- Normalize mental health conversations: It is essential for organizations to normalize having conversations about mental health – be it through awareness drives or employee resource groups. This sends a clear message to the employees that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but of strength.
Avtar’s Vision: From Awareness to Action
At Avtar, we believe that access to mental health is a matter of workplace culture. Over the last 25 years, Avtar has partnered with organizations across India to build an ecosystem that prioritizes inclusion, equity, and most importantly psychological safety. Our approach of workplace culture goes beyond policy design – it focuses on the shift in mindset that empowers leaders and employees to recognize emotional well-being in terms of purpose and productivity. Through our research, advocacy, and consultations, Avtar has helped organizations strengthen their culture, so every individual feels safe, supported, and valued – irrespective of their gender, background, and role.
This World Mental Health Day, it is essential to reaffirm our commitment to building workplace cultures that build support systems. Access to mental health support is not a privilege but a right and this right should be available at home, work, and in the community – because when mental well-being becomes a part of how we work or live, we don’t survive crises but rise stronger from them.
Reach out to us at info@avtarcc.in for building a workplace culture that builds a support system.
