Following the theme proposed by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) on the occasion of World Mental Health Daythe Confederation focused on prioritizing mental health in the workplace under the motto ‘Work and mental health, a fundamental link‘.
At the event, funded by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 and ONCE Foundation and which brought together around seventy people in the HUB By Digital Talent of the ONCE Foundation of Madridthe importance of decent work for mental health was vindicated and how low salaries, temporary employment, lack of conciliation, high work rates or the wage gap can have a direct and important impact on the well-being of the person. hardworking
In addition, the discrimination that affects people with mental health problems in the workplace was also made visible and a social and structural change was demanded to leave the stigma behind.
The event, moderated by the journalist Beatriz Nogalhad the interventions of Nel González Zapicopresident of the Spanish Mental Health Confederation; Jesus Martin Blancogeneral director of Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030; Luis Cayo Pérez Buenopresident of CERMI; and José Luis Martínez Donosogeneral director of ONCE Foundation.
Good workplace
During his speech, Nel González Zapico pointed out that “nor there is only one definition of a ‘good workplace’”. However, the president of Mental Health Spain highlighted that “it does seem that the different scales with which we usually measure them coincide in pointing out as key factors that people feel valuedthat our opinion is taken into account, that the organization is flexiblelet there be a good atmospherebe a place safe and pleasant and receive fair treatment in terms of salary and recognition. Let us aspire, therefore, to this.”
Regarding people with mental health problems, low labor insertion is one of the main barriers to their social inclusion. This is due, to a large extent, to the social prejudices that many companies and topublic administrations maintain. According to the most recent data from the INE, people with psychosocial disabilities had the second lowest employment rate in 2022, with 18.9%.
Gonzalez Zapicobesides, explained that “the employment It is a very useful tool for recovery from a mental disorder because it gives us the ability to choose, have autonomy and draw up a life plansomething that historically wasyes “It has denied, and many times continues to be denied, people with mental health problems, thereby violating their rights.”
Human rights
For his part, Jesús Martín Blanco stated that “human rights are uncomfortable and generate resistance because they change the axis of power and return it to ordinary people.” For Martín Blanco, it is necessary that work centers be healthy places “where people go to work and not get sick”. And, in this sense, he stressed that “spending a workday feeling that they have done us a favor, perceiving condescension or suffering criticism for being down or because we are not productive enough, that is discrimination, that is ableism.”
And Luis Cayo Pérez Bueno highlighted that work “is a basic personal and social good that is systematically denied to people with mental health problems” and that many of them “have had such sad experiences that they do not even consider accessing employment. We have to act there.” Furthermore, he assured that “the work environment is a harmful environment, it is a mental health problem generator” and that it is necessary to create “safe places that preserve and promote a active mental health”.
Manifest
Next, the World Mental Health Day Manifesto was read by Elisabet Lemosrepresentative of the State Network of Mental Health Women in Spain, and Gonzalo Nielfarepresentative of the Committee for Mental Health in First Person,
In addition, the framework presentation prepared by the professor also took place Edgar Cabanas about the importance of taking care of the well-being of workers. And finally, there was a discussion table good business practices in which they participated Ricardo González Guerrahead of Safety, Health and Welfare of ILUNIONand Celia Martín CamareroCorporate Labor Relations Specialist at Palladium Hotel Group.
The commemorative event concluded with the delivery of the Bequal Seal to the Spanish Mental Health Confederation, which Nel González Zapico received from José Luis Martínez Donoso. This is a recognition that certifies the excellence of the Confederation regarding its inclusive policy towards people with disabilities.