The World Federation of Mental Health invites you to sign the Mentally Healthy Workplace Pledge.

One in four people will likely experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. More specifically, over 350 million people are estimated to suffer from depression worldwide¹ - and the WHO expects its burden to be on the rise! With huge impact in people’s lives, depression is a heterogeneous disorder² affecting different people in different ways. It manifests itself through a variety of symptoms: emotional, physical and cognitive (i.e. difficulties in concentrating, in decision making, slow thinking, fogginess).  

And what does it mean in economic terms? The World Economic Forum and the Harvard School for Public Health state that the cumulative global impact of mental disorders in terms of lost economic output will amount to $16.3 trillion between 2011 and 2030. In China is estimated to lose $4.5 trillion to mental illness, says³. 

“We know that treatment of depression and anxiety makes good sense for health and wellbeing; … [our] study confirms that it makes sound economic sense too…We must now find ways to make sure that access to mental health services becomes a reality for all men, women and children, wherever they live.”, said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO in April 2016⁴. Indeed, the WHO found that for every US$ 1 invested in scaling up treatment for depression and anxiety leads to a return of US$ 4 in better health and ability to work. A 5% improvement in labour force participation and productivity is valued at US$ 399 billion, and improved health adds another US$ 310 billion in returns⁴.

Sign Mentally Healthy Workplace Pledge today and campaign for healthy workplaces with the resources available.