The WHO (World Health Organization) warned this Wednesday (29) that about 15% of the world’s workers suffer from some kind of psychological disorder. The organization, together with the ILO (International Labor Organization), requires concrete action to address issues related to mental health and labor market conditions.

Bullying is one of the top complaints in the labor market, according to research — Photo: Pixabay/Reproduction/ND

Both organizations estimate that the cost of diagnosing depression costs the global economy about $1 trillion a year.

“WHO global guidelines on mental health at work recommend measures to address risks such as heavy workloads, negative behaviors and other factors that cause stress at work,” the specialized health agency emphasized.

WHO recommends for the first time, for example, training for managers to develop the ability to prevent a stressful work environment, in addition to enabling managers to respond to cases of workers with mental health problems.

“Harassment and psychological abuse [também conhecida como mobbing] are the main complaints of workplace harassment with a negative impact on mental health. However, discussing or drawing attention to mental health remains taboo in workplaces around the world.

The most disturbing country in the world

According to the WHO, Brazil is considered the most disturbing country in the world. Prior to the pandemic, it was estimated that approximately 9.3% of the population, equivalent to 19.4 million people, experienced some degree of anxiety.

According to the organization, in the first year of the pandemic alone, the level of depression and anxiety increased by 25%. The increase was due to a long period of mourning and social isolation, which worsened the situation. The United Nations Agency (UN) called on governments this year to pay attention to the mental health of the population.

*According to Agência Brasil.