World Mental Health Day: Mental Health in Aid and Development Industry
Mental health is pivotal for the success, longevity and passion of any employer . This is especially so for those working in the aid and development industry. As an organization that works in partnership with communities in rural Sierra Leone, daily, we witness firsthand the impact multidimensional poverty has in Sierra Leone and our partner communities. What isn’t usually discussed in the aid sector is how working in such environments teared down by multidimensional poverty also impacts the mental wellbeing of local staff.
When its your daily goal to tackle issues of multidimensional poverty, hunger and diseases, the mental health of professionals in the aid industry is usually overlooked. This is especially heightened if you work in a country or a society where the conversation of mental health is not a cultural norm. The prevalent culture of silence, guilt and fear of stigmatization in the development and aid sector, leads to many working without priotising their mental wellbeing. Development workers tend to think that their mental health is not as “bad” when compared to the woman struggling to feed her family or the young man struggling to make ends meet in his community. Comparing lifestyles and situations can easily cause a detrioration in mental health. This is because development sector workers are usally hands on in the lives of their communitites and passionately involved in their work.
Consequently, if not properly addressed, the stories we hear and see can often times lead to a sense of indifference, or feeling “numb” towards wanting to create a change. Yes, working in the aid and development sector can be rewarding as you see the change impacted in communities. However, behind that high of being a part of impact lies the harrowing symptoms many workers face alone. Symptoms of severe mood swings at work, overwhelming feelings of guilt, anxiety over completing minor task and being worried over workplace situations that is out of your control.
In light of World Mental Health Day (October 10th), we asked a member of our staff what are some ways she looks after her mental health.
1. How do you like to spend your time out of work?
“Outside of work, I love hiking at different local parks, reading, and spending time with my friends and family.”
2. What do you do specifically to take care of your mental health when you feel yourself getting low?
“When I'm starting to feel low, I like to spend extra time outside going on walks or hikes because this always makes me feel at peace and refreshed. Sometimes I like to plan trips and fun things with friends so that I have something to look forward to.”
3. Are you happy with the hours of sleep you get most nights?
“Most of the time I get a good amount of sleep each night. I like having a consistent routine during the week, and I know that getting enough rest is an important part of taking care of our mental health.”
4. What would you say to those who think mental health is not “that bad” especially because we work with communities who are going through things worse than us?
“When you see so many people around you struggling in really difficult circumstances, it can be easy to downplay the importance of giving your mind and body the rest that you need. However, being attentive to your mental health is one of the most important ways you can take care of yourself. When you incorporate rest as a rhythm in your life, it can have a positive impact on your work, hobbies, and relationships with others and can even help prevent feelings of burnout. “
At a national and global level, the importance of mental health has gained increasing recognition. At OneVillage Partners, we want to highlight that it shouldn’t stop there. Poor mental health can be caused by the experience of social, political, economic, and environmental inequalities in a country or community we work with. However, we want to highlight there are many tools and resources available that we encourage staff and our partners to access if needed.
This Mental Heath Day, we want to remind our staff and partners to take care of their mental health and wellbeing at all times. It is a priority.