World Mental Health Day 2023

World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is observed on October 10 every year. The day seeks to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and to mobilize efforts to support it on a global basis –including in the workplace. Through acts of kindness and allyship can we truly empower a culture of openness, inclusion and mental health awareness.

Deloitte Middle East CEO, Mutasem Dajani, said the following when asked about the importance of upholding mental wellbeing in the workplace:  

“Taking care of each other is a core value in Deloitte. I am committed to promoting a culture of awareness, where it is safe to talk about mental health, and ensure support is accessible to all our people.”

This year’s WMHD theme as shared by the World Health Organization (WHO) is: Mental health is a universal human right. This day allows people and communities to come together to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.

Research & Awareness

Deloitte conducted it’s yearly Gen Z and Millennial survey, surveying over 22,000 Gen Z and Millennials from across 44 countries. The survey analysis found that mental health concerns is at an all time high, with 46% of Gen Zs and 39% of millennials feeling stressed or anxious all or most of the time, a main cause being poor work-life balance. Work pressures are driving high levels of burnout among these generations with roughly half of Gen Zs (52%) and millennials (49%) feeling burned out. 

Employers have a responsibility to address stress and burnout, and to help eliminate mental health stigma at work. Dealing with this stigma will require healthy work environments, enabled by inclusive and empathetic leaders who talk about mental health, where people feel able to speak about their needs without fear of judgement and know that it’s OK to not be OK.

Deloitte’s Wellbeing Strategy aims for our people’s wellbeing to be top of mind as they progress through their career. This is achieved through: (1) Ensuring an employee experience that celebrates good work-harmony and purposeful work; (2) Providing necessary wellbeing support to our professionals who are facing challenges with their wellbeing; (3) Guarantee a work environment where our people feel safe to speak about their wellbeing.

Deloitte Middle East People & Purpose Partner, Rana Salhab said the following on the importance of addressing mental health stigma:

“Not only is Mental health awareness important, but more so, there has to be accessible support as a workplace priority. At Deloitte Middle East, the wellbeing of our people is integral to the way we work and through the commitment of the leadership, we ensure that various routes are available to all our people when building resilience and seeking support. In addition, the importance of challenging the associated stigmas and promoting an inclusive environment is a core part of the wellbeing agenda. In the recent DME engagement survey, we saw an increase in our people’s satisfaction with their wellbeing support in the workplace and their openness to discuss their physical and mental wellbeing with their team leaders. Fostering allyship is essential to building an employee culture that empowers people to check in on their mental health and that of others around them."

Deloitte’s 2023 WMHD digital campaign spotlights our leaders’ and employees’ perspectives on the significance of World Mental Health Day, and what Deloitte is doing to support this. Deloitte Middle East continuously drives and evolves a wellbeing-conscious culture through an open dialogue in our people engagement survey to create an environment where all employees, despite any wellbeing challenges they may face, can talk about their wellbeing and thrive.

As part of our DME Wellbeing strategy and ambitions, a number of resources and channels are available to all employees: 

• Deloitte Employee Assistance Program (DEAP): DEAP provides our people and their immediate family members with confidential year-round expert counselling support sessions.
• Wellbeing Hub: The Wellbeing Hub is a one-stop shop on all things internal Deloitte Wellbeing resources, where our people can find their Wellbeing tools and support routes under one platform. 
• Medical Insurance Coverage: DME’s medical insurance covers a range of wellbeing and treatment options, from traditional to alternative and complimentary treatment. 
• Internal Support: An individual can reach out to several experienced and trained advisors in the buinsess to discuss any concerns and ask for guidance.
• DME Ethics: We have Ethics Officers throughout Middle East where our people can discuss any concerns or questions which they feel may not align with our values and purpose. 

There is always an ally close by to support you while you take on your mental health and wellbeing journey.