Three out of ten workers suffer from mental problems

Health is a social phenomenon. It is defined not merely in terms of physical and mental well-being; rather, it is often the result of a complex interplay of economic, political and cultural factors. - IOHSAD

I recently read a news article about a survey done on government workers in 2007. Among the survey findings was that 30% of those interviewed had “...mental health problems.” This study of workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) gives us a glimpse of a mental picture (no pun intended) of workers on the edge, as the study also notes suicidal tendencies in some of the cohorts.

Perennial stress can cause depression in an individual. With workers facing low wages, insecure jobs and continued inflation, stress is something most of the workers, including us, wake up to. Poor social service, housing, health care etc. adds more burden. The recent controversy with year-end bonus that was supposed to be received by our public school teachers last year can be an example of how government policies affect the wellness of public sector employees and provide the stressors which creates health issues.

After President Gloria Arroyo made a public statement that all workers in government shall be receiving PhP 10,000, most of the teachers already borrowed money to prepare for the Christmas festivities, only to be shortchanged in the end, with some receiving only PhP 7,000 post December 25, while the rest was promised to arrive this January 2010.