The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, PenoP, has asked Corporate organisations to prioritise mental health plans in their workplaces.
PenoP made the call during a webinar it organised on ‘Mental health, managing stress and depression’, to educate professionals in the pension industry on leveraging mental health for lasting change.
The Association stressed the crucial role of mental health in overall wellbeing, highlighting the fact that good health encompassed physical, mental, social, spiritual, and financial aspects, going beyond the mere absence of diseases or infirmity.
The Chief Executive Officer of PenOp, Oguche Agudah, said “the managers and business leaders needed to always look out for the total wellbeing of their subordinates and employees.”
Agudah said; “The overall aim of the session is to equip pension professionals with the knowledge and tools to manage stress and achieve a healthy work-life balance.”
He said the webinar was the start of its quarterly wellness sessions, focusing on providing staff within the pension industry with tools and knowledge to live a balanced life.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of Living Health International, Dr Gbenga Adebayo, urged organisations and individuals to start developing wellness and resilience plans to safeguard mental health.
He said there was a need to stop the stigma of mental health as “social support, prevention strategies, and effective coping skills were essential tools for building strength, managing time, and living a stress-free life.”
Adebayo also urged organisations to create a safe space within organisations for individuals to openly discuss their mental state and stress as a crucial step towards supporting employees’ mental health.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
