October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and this year’s theme is Mental Health in an Unequal World. According to the World Federation of Mental Health, 2020 highlighted inequalities due to race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and the lack of respect for human rights in many countries, including for people living with mental health conditions.
The theme, Mental Health in an Unequal World, highlights that access to mental health services remains unequal. Between 75% and 95% of people with mental disorders live in low- and middle-income countries where they are unable to access mental health services, while access in high-income countries is not much better.
In addition, there is a stigma attached to poor mental health that can affect a person’s educational opportunities and career prospects. We must all work to address these disparities and ensure that people with lived experience of mental health are fully integrated in all aspects of life.
At AS&K, we believe that mental wellbeing is just as important as physical wellbeing. This is why we support open dialogue and offer our team a number of wellbeing initiatives, including membership of HeadSpace, our Working & Wellness initiative, our Employee Assistance Program, access to trained Mental Health Champions and a Wellness Action Program.
We also offer our team an annual Volunteer Day, an opportunity to spend a day volunteering for any organization or charity of their choice, without using up precious annual leave. In this way, we hope to benefit their mental health, and maybe also someone else’s.
Today, we support #WorldMentalHealthDay and its mission to tackle inequality in mental healthcare around the world.
If you’re interested in joining a company that values its employees’ wellbeing, view our current job opportunities today.
