Towards Healthier workplace….

1. Towards Healthier workplace…. Dr. Maha Al Shehab

2. Health & Wellness Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ~WHO Wellness is not the absence of disease, illness or stress, but the presence of purpose in life, active involvement in satisfying work and play, joyful relationships, a healthy body and living environment, and happiness. ~SAMHSA

3. Work and health • Work offers opportunities to promote individual health and well-being • Work should be recognised by all as important and beneficial, and access to, and retention of work promotes and improves the overall health of the population • Long-term sickness absence is a strong predictor of disability and mortality • Work has a positive impact on health and well-being (‘good jobs’ in well managed organisations) • Under some circumstances work can have adverse effects (‘bad jobs’)

4. What is Occupational Health “The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well being of workers in all occupations” “The adaptation of work to man and each man to his job” First Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health

5. ILO Global estimates 2011-2012 • 2.6 billion workers • 2.34 million people die each year from work-related accidents and diseases 2.02 million- die from a wide range of work-related diseases • Informal economy huge and growing • 179 million children in hazardous work • 6,300 work-related deaths that occur every day, 5,500 are caused by various types of work related diseases. • The ILO also estimates that 160 million cases of non-fatal work-related diseases occur annually • old and new hazards; old and new diseases • Overburdened health system, understaffing

6. WHO Global estimates • Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with 12.7 million new cases and 7.6 million deaths in 2008. • Globally, 19% of all cancers are attributable to the environment, including work setting resulting in 1.3 million deaths each year. • WHO has classified 107 agents, mixtures, and exposure situations as carcinogenic to humans. • Every tenth lung cancer death is closely related to risks in the workplace. • Lung cancer, mesothelioma, and bladder cancer are among the most common types of occupational cancers.

7. WHO Global Burden of Disease • WHO World Health Report - Oct 2002 • Occupational Risk Factors account for: -Injuries - 10% - Back Pain - 37% - Hearing loss –16% - Infections from Needle sticks among Health Care Workers • 40% Hepatitis B, 40% Hepatitis C • 2% HIV • Yet most occupational diseases and accidents are preventable

8. ‘Businesses that don’t take mental health seriously will not be successful… the capabilities that companies require now center more on innovation, communication & emotional intelligence than just the more straightforward requirements of strength, dexterity & intellect that characterized previous eras.’ - Dr Paul Litchfield

9. Whatis Health ?! • Physical Health : • Having a healthy body is really important • Keeping fit • Eating well • Adequate sleep • Stress management

10. Mental Health?! • Just as we can develop problems with our physical health, mental health problems will be experienced by many of us over the course of our lives. • Onein fourpeople will experience a mental health problem each year

11. What is Mental Health ?! What is mental health? Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his own community. World Health Organization 2011

12. Mental Health Issues in the Workplace • Stress • Depression • Alcohol • Tobacco • Prescription Drugs • Problem Gambling • Eating Disorders

13. What is stress • Stress is a part of our everyday life that is the result of major changes you must adapt to. • The source of stress can be triggered from: • Environment; bad weather conditions, pollen, traffic • Social; work, school, friends, finances • Physiological; body changes, inadequate sleep, illness • Thoughts; interpretation (irrational thinking)

14. Reaction to stress • The normal physical reaction to stress when you feel threatened or upset, triggers your fight of flight response. • When you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones. These hormones arouse the body for emergency action.

15. Fight or Flight Response • The fight or flight response is controlled by the brain when the cerebral cortex (thinking part) sends an alarm to hypothalamus. • The hypothalamus stimulates the sympathetic nervous system causing your heart to pound faster, muscles tightens, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and detours your judgment

16. How do you respond to stress • Good Stress • helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert by helping you rise to meet challenges; presentation at work or sharpens your concentration • when you’re attempting to complete work projects. • Unhealthy stress • cause major damage to your health, mood, productivity, • relationships, and quality of life.

17. Causes and Management Of Stress Work Stress Management Identify how you respond to your specific work stressors Set goals to respond more effectively to your work stressors Change your thinking When in conflict, negotiate Pace and balance yourself • Chronic work overload • Unfair treatment • Impossible expectations of your boss • Unsupportive or hostile coworkers • Inadequate training • Lack of recognition or rewards • Your values conflict with boss or coworkers • Unpleasant work environment • Lack of clear direction about priorities

18. Causes and Management Of Stress Cognitive Management For cognitive rehabilitation keep a calendar, don’t rely on your memory to tell you when and where to be, certainly for the next week or months. Develop a system to leave items where they are visible and where you will see them until you need it. Complete brain challenge games as mental exercise like word puzzles, sukudo, or playing strategy games on your phone. The purpose of performing these task is stimulate brain cells Memory problems • Memory problems • Inability to concentrate • Poor judgment • Seeing only the negative • Anxious or racing thoughts • Constant worrying

19. Causes and Management Of Stress Emotional Management Write in a journal, talk with friends, family, or counselor to let your feelings out. Do something you enjoy like a hobby, caring for pets, volunteer work, or creative activity. Breathing exercise is a natural necessity to life as you take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. By learning to normalize or slow your breathing it can help you relax. • Moodiness • Irritability or short temper • Agitation, inability to relax • Feeling overwhelmed • Sense of loneliness and isolation • Depression or general unhappiness

20. Causes and Management Of Stress Physical Management Exercise is a good way to manage stress and relieve muscle tension. To start off simple a great way this can be done is walking, house cleaning, dancing, or working in the yard work. To relax separate groups of muscles one by one; Yoga, tai chi, and qi gong are good techniques. • Aches and pains • Diarrhea or constipation • Nausea, dizziness • Chest pain, rapid heartbeat • Loss of sex drive • Frequent colds

21. Causes and Management Of Stress Behavioral Management Incorporate healthy techniques to help sooth your soul and release tension. Eating healthy snacks like nuts, apples, cheese, crackers, or vegetables. Use organic or herbal sleeping aides to help put your mind at rest. • Eating more or less • Sleeping too much or too little • Isolating yourself from others • Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities • Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax • Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

22. What are Mental Health Problems ? • Depression • Anxiety • Bipolar disorder • Schizophrenia • Eating Disorders • Personality Disorders • Dementia • Obsessive compulsive disorder

23. Facts • It Affects1 in 4 these kinds of illnesses, therefore rank alongside cardiovascular disorders and cancer as among the nation's • These are issues which could affect any one of us. People feel very uncomfortable talking about mental health • A reason for this is stigma  • People with mental illness can be stereotyped and discriminated against • By ridiculing someone we create a barrier that makes us think we aren’t like that person. • We want to believe ‘that could never be me’. • For some people the impact of stigma is worse than the symptoms of their illness. • We are frightened of mental illness in a way that we are not about physical illness.

24. Facts • Psychiatrists are all too aware of the issue of stigma. It affects every sphere of our work. • It makes people reluctant to admit that they are struggling with mental health difficulties and this can delay treatment and support. • We are aware of how people’s recovery can be held back by the barriers that stigma creates, often through problems encountered at work. • To reduce stigma and discrimination we need much better education.

25. Mental Illness is Prevalent • Up to 25% of the U.S. population will personally experience mental illness at any given time, with roughly half of those experiencing significant psychological distress. • 1 in 10 will experience depression in a given year. • Increased prevalence of depression with chronic medical illnesses (45% of people with asthma; 27% with diabetes). • Mental illnesses affect people during their prime working years. • 50% of those who have experienced depression will have a recurrent episode Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings, 2012 Prev Chronic Disease, 2006 National Institute of Mental Health

26. Depression Symptoms and Work • Sleep problems = lower-quality work • Lack of concentration = procrastination, more accidents on the job • Slowed thoughts = trouble making decisions • Forgetfulness = poor quality work • Self medication = missed deadlines, presenteeism • Aches and pains = trips to the doctor, increased healthcare costs • Irritability or tearfulness = poor relationships with coworkers • Low motivation = presenteeism

27. Warning Signs • An increase in unexplained absences or sick leave. • Poor performance. • Poor-time-keeping. • Increased use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco or caffeine. • Frequent headaches and backaches. • Withdrawal from social contact. • Poor judgement / indecision. • Constant tiredness or low energy. • Unusual displays of emotion, e.g. frequent irritability or tearfulness.

28. Warning Signs • Working slowly • Missing deadlines • Difficulty concentrating • Appearing numb or emotionless • Withdrawing from work activity • Overworking • Forgetting directives, procedures and requests • Having difficulty with work transitions or changes in routines

29. Employer Costs Medical Mental health/substance abuse Pharmacy Disability Presenteeism and lost productivity Absenteeism Overtime to cover sick-day absences Unrealized output Overstaffing Temporary workers Stress on team members Recruitment Hiring costs Retraining • Indirect costs = $80-100B

30. Treatment Improves Work Performance • Nearly 86% of employees treated for depression report improved work performance.1 • 80% of those treated for mental illness report “high levels of work efficacy and satisfaction.”2 • Treatment of depression results about a 40-60% reduction in absenteeism/presenteeism.3 1 Finkelstein SN et al: Improvement in Subjective Work Performance after Treatment of Chronic Depression: Psychopharmacology Bulletin, vol. 32, 1996, pp. 33-40. 2 Therapy in America 2004: Poll Shows Mental Health Treatment Goes Mainstream. 3 Dunlop, DD Am J Pub Health 2005. Wang, PS Am J Psych 2004. Simon, GE Gen Hosp Psych 2000. Claxton, AJ JOEM, 1999.

31. Resilience Resilience is the ability to cope with life’s challengesand to adapt to adversity. Your levels of resilience can change over the course of your life.

32. Why are wellbeing and resilience important? Resilience is important because it can help to protect against the development of some mental health problems. Resilience helps us to maintain our wellbeing in difficult circumstances.

33. High levels of wellbeing and resilience in a community don’t just lead to fewer mental health problems… Good levels of wellbeing are associated with: • Improved learning and academic achievement • Reduced absence from work due to sickness • Reductions in risk-taking behaviours like smoking • Improved physical health • Reduced mortality • Increased community involvement

34. Improving wellbeing There are a whole range of ways that we can improve our wellbeing and resilience. The New Economics Foundation has set out five things that we can all do to improve our wellbeing….

35. Connect… With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

36. Be active… • Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

37. Take notice… Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

38. Give… • Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.

39. Keep learning… • Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favorite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

40. Thank you • Work hard • Rest • Relax • Socialize • Exercise