Tariq Mahmood Awan
This year, the World Mental Health Day theme has inspired me to write an article about the significance of mental health. Mental health is a fundamental right now. Therefore, dissecting our mental health and strengthening it is critical to provide health justice. Why is mental health more significant for civil servants in Pakistan?
Over the years, I have observed several civil servants during my stay in the civil service to be struggling with mental disorders. There is a prevalent sadism, harsh tones, administrative collapses, etc. There are unfortunate cases of suicide by the civil servants. It means there is something wrong with the bureaucracy in Pakistan. Therefore, it is urgent to dissect the issue and settle it for the welfare of civil service. There is no denial now. Mental health is no longer an administrative taboo but a lurking health hazard among civil servants in Pakistan.
Mental health is a complex and multidimensional concept encompassing various aspects of human well-being, functioning, and experience. It is not simply the absence of mental disorders but a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. Mental health is influenced by various individual, social, and structural factors that interact in dynamic and context-specific ways. Therefore, mental health can change over time and across different situations.
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Physiological dimension refers to the biological and physical aspects of mental health, such as the brain structure and function, the neurotransmitter and hormone levels, the genetic factors, and the immune system. These factors can affect how people perceive, process, and respond to information, emotions, and stressors. They can also be affected by environmental factors, such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, substance use, and exposure to toxins or infections.
The behavioural dimension refers to the patterns of actions and reactions people exhibit concerning their mental health. These include coping skills, self-care practices, social skills, communication styles, problem-solving abilities, and lifestyle choices. Behavioural factors can influence and be influenced by mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, or personality disorders. Interventions, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, or behavioural activation, can also modify them.
Furthermore, the psychological dimension refers to the cognitive and emotional aspects of mental health, such as people’s thoughts, feelings, beliefs, attitudes, values, and motivations. These factors can affect how people interpret and evaluate themselves, others, and the world around them. They can also be affected by mental health conditions, such as mood disorders, psychotic disorders, or trauma-related disorders. Mindfulness-based therapy, positive psychology, or psychoeducation can also enhance them.
The administrative dimension is critical, which refers to the organizational and systemic aspects of mental health, such as the policies, programs, services, and resources that are available and accessible to support people’s mental health needs. These factors can affect how people access and receive quality care for their mental health conditions. They can also be affected by social determinants of health, such as income, education, employment, housing, or discrimination. Interventions such as advocacy, collaboration, coordination, or innovation can also improve them.
The health dimension refers to people’s overall well-being and functioning in their mental health. It includes physical health outcomes (such as chronic diseases or mortality), psychological health outcomes (such as life satisfaction or positive affect), social health outcomes (such as relationships or community participation), and occupational health outcomes (such as productivity or performance). Multiple dimensions of mental health can influence these outcomes and affect them in return. Various indicators and tools can also measure them.
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Why are civil servants in Pakistan more vulnerable to mental health disorders? Civil service in Pakistan is a challenging task for multiple reasons. First, there is an obsession among civil servants for their postings and the perks and privileges of the service. Then, the administrative structures are inconsistent, insensitive and demanding other than administratively. There needs to be more rule of law, merit, transparency and further organizational standardization. Civil service’s social and political orientation is more demanding than substantive civil service structures. As a result, civil servants are trapped willingly in the administrative labyrinth and, thus, compromise their principles, leading to mental dissatisfaction and disorder.
Civil servants are more vulnerable to mental health disorders for various reasons, such as the high level of stress and pressure that they face in their work environment, especially in times of crisis, uncertainty, or change. They may have to deal with heavy workloads, tight deadlines, complex tasks, conflicting demands, or public scrutiny. They may also have to cope with traumatic events like violence, accidents, or disasters. They may have to face more social, administrative and political pressure for their posting sustainability.
Then, they lack adequate support and resources for their mental health needs, such as counselling, therapy, or medication. They may face barriers to accessing quality care, such as stigma, discrimination, cost, or availability. They may also feel reluctant to seek help because they fear losing their posting, perks, job, reputation, or social status.
As a result, this adversely impacts their mental health, physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and occupational performance. They may experience fatigue, insomnia, headaches, or pain. They may also suffer from low self-esteem, negative emotions, poor concentration, or impaired decision-making. They may also struggle to maintain healthy and heartwarming interactions with their colleagues, administrators, the public, or family members. They may also face reduced productivity, absenteeism, turnover, or disciplinary actions.
Therefore, it is essential to address the mental health issues among civil servants and provide them with appropriate support and interventions to enhance their well-being and functioning. Accordingly, there is a need to promote a positive and supportive work culture that values mental health and well-being as much as physical health and safety. It includes creating a safe and respectful work environment that fosters trust, communication, collaboration, and feedback in the civil service of Pakistan. It also involves providing recognition, appreciation, and rewards for good performance and achievements. Providing training and education on mental health awareness and prevention for officers and staff is critical. This includes raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and the available resources and services for help. It also involves teaching coping skills and resilience strategies to manage stress and enhance well-being.
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Furthermore, it is paramount to implement reasonable adjustments and accommodations for staff with mental health difficulties to enable them to perform their duties effectively and efficiently. This includes adjusting the work schedule, workload, tasks, or environment to suit the individual’s needs and preferences. It also involves providing flexible work arrangements, such as working from home or part-time work. Also, there is a need to train the senior civil servants about administrative ethics and how to deal with juniors and staff. Several civil servants are arrogant and behave rudely with others, resulting in the mental deterioration of the staff.
It is vital to encourage staff to seek help and support for their mental health problems as soon as possible and without fear of negative consequences. This includes providing confidential and accessible counselling services or referrals to external professionals or agencies for further assistance1. It also involves offering peer support or mentoring programs to provide emotional and practical support from colleagues with similar experiences or challenges. Mental health is no longer an administrative taboo, and civil servants must care for their mental health as much as their physical health.
