Don’t let next health crisis be mental

28 April is the World Day of Safety and Health at Work and the International Workers’ Memorial Day. This year the focus is of course put on the COVID-19 situation. This makes a lot of sense. Right now, there is no other risk which measures up to the enormous impact the virus has on our lives also in working life.

The current COVID-19 situation is showing in the death rates and is also taking a toll on the mental health of people. Europe has been in a stress epidemic for many years. Coming back to a new normal risks worsening the situation.

Professionals and managers which Eurocadres represents are already playing a key role in keeping society functioning. Doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals and teachers, to name a few. But also, managers who are often in an impossible situation of trying to maintain a functioning organisation.

There could however be another storm ahead. Frontline workers not only risk exposure to COVID-19 due to lack of proper personal protective equipment. Extreme stress is another problem. When we start moving forward on a road to recovery, this is likely to include both higher workloads and fewer resources. This will put many more workers already suffering from a tough mental health situation at risk.

When we start moving forward on a road to recovery, this is likely to include both higher workloads and fewer resources. This will put many more workers already suffering from a tough mental health situation at risk.

We must take this as a strong call to properly deal with psychosocial risks at work. If not, we risk a worsening of an already deteriorating mental health situation also in European workplaces.