Workplace Options UAE celebrates World Mental Health Day with a toolkit that prioritizes long-term recovery and proactive mental health support for employees.
In a region that values community and collective strength, mental health care begins with creating safe spaces where every employee feels heard and supported. This year’s World Mental Health Day theme highlights the importance of ensuring everyone has access to mental health support during catastrophes and emergencies. In honor of the day, Workplace Options UAE is sharing practical steps employers can take to provide sustained care and support during times of crisis. Without proactive support, unresolved stress can lead to burnout, absenteeism, and disengagement.
“Recovery is not linear,” said Alan King, President & CEO of Workplace Options “Anniversaries remind us that pain can resurface, but these events also give employers the chance to reaffirm care, reduce stigma, and advance access to support by thoughtful promotion of employee assistance programs.”
“At WPO UAE, we see an increasing number of organisations investing in proactive mental health programs, not only as a response to crises but as a foundation for sustainable. performance,” said Yara Kamel, Clinical Success Coach at Workplace Options UAE.
Five Leadership Actions to Help Teams Communicate with care.
- Share simple, empathetic, meaningful messages that validate ongoing emotional challenges and highlight resources.
- Conduct regular check-ins. Recovery takes time. Continued outreach shows it is normal, and beneficial, to seek help.
- Engage peer support. Encourage Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and storytelling forums to normalise conversations about trauma, stress, and anxiety.
- Provide manager training. Equip leaders with trauma-informed skills and toolkits so they can respond with empathy and confidence.
- Monitor and adapt. Gather feedback to ensure support remains relevant and responsive as needs evolve.
The UAE’s National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing has already placed mental health as a strategic pillar of sustainable development. Corporate participation in this vision is key to ensuring long-term workforce resilience.
Why It Matters
In the UAE, where 89% of the population are expatriates, stressors like relocation, family
separation, and adaptation are realities that make psychological safety and access to
confidential mental health support even more essential Workplace Options’ Psychological Safety Study reveals that the top 3 stressors for UAE are lack of recognition, conflict of values, and conflicts with managers.
A recent survey revealed that 51% of UAE employees have experienced or are experiencing mental health challenges, aligning with global averages, yet 41% report that mental health is still stigmatized in their workplace.
The Call to Action
World Mental Health Day is not just a date on the calendar: it is a reminder that employers are vital to sustaining care beyond the crisis. With the right, proactive approach, organisations can turn awareness into access, and access into action.
World Mental Health Day Toolkit
In honor of World Mental Health Day, WPO has released a free toolkit to help individuals and organizations raise awareness of mental health and take meaningful action. Available in 8 languages, this toolkit is designed to help everyone, no matter where they are, take practical steps to mark the day – Download it for free here.
