We can all go through it. “My story could be anyone’s story,” says Javier Herrera from Tenerife, who had to give up his biggest dream after it came true due to a serious mental health issue. “I had a very clear idea of what I wanted in my life: to be a firefighter. But after two years in a permanent position, it caused me stress, and it was mental illness,” admits Javier. He then entered into what he called “a very big bump”, coupled with the loss of his father, which can be summed up in “two suicide attempts”.
But Javier, fortunately, has been speaking in the past tense for some time. “I had to reinvent myself. It was hard, but it can be done,” he says optimistically. Thanks to the AFES Salud Mental Association, which promotes equal opportunities for people with mental health issues, and the program Integrates mental health From the La Caixa Foundation, Javier was able to restore emotional stability. Three months after that bump, he got his first job. “Work normalizes disease a lot. It integrates you more into society, it makes you feel good.”
Javier went from a stable job to a mental illness that turned his life upside down.
Why work environment is beneficial to us
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), work is good for mental health as long as the work environment is positive. Javier’s case illustrates the great importance of work for people with a mental disorder. As experts point out, 1 in 4 people will develop a mental disorder throughout their life and 25% of health problems will be mental, surpassing diseases such as cancer. Given this social reality, these are some examples of how work can help prevent and treat mental disorders.
1. Promote social inclusion
Work is a mechanism for social integration because it shapes the lives of people in society. Thanks to work, we can organize our vital time, acquire certain habits of behavior and facilitate the development of relationships and social networks, as well as other aspects that involve the exercise of citizenship rights, from social benefits to pensions. If you have a job, anyone with a mental disorder will feel they are part of a particular social group.
2. Reduces isolation and improves self-esteem
Loneliness and misunderstanding on the part of the environment also affect the daily lives of many people with a mental disorder. By integrating into the workplace, an affected person can develop a different identity, in which the role of the worker replaces that of the sick person. This aspect will positively change a person’s perception of himself, he is more healthy and independent, as well as the perception of the environment about him.
3. Helps fight mental illness
When work is done under favorable environmental, psychological and socio-economic conditions, it protects people’s mental health, prevents mental illness and has therapeutic and stabilizing value. People who work focus their attention on the tasks and obligations of the job, leaving less room for worry, stress, or anxiety. Those already affected will see how the work will produce an emotional benefit that can help them prevent crises or setbacks.
4. Talent development
Experts say the focus should not be on a person’s limitations, but on their competencies and ability to add value within the company. Recent studies indicate that employment has helped to overcome problems and improve the quality of life for the vast majority of people with a mental health disorder. Generally, when they get a job they turn to it and appreciate the new opportunity.
5. Normalization of mental health problems
Integration at work for people with a mental disorder, in addition to the fact that companies are sensitive to this reality among their employees, helps to set aside the stigma and prejudices that commonly accompany mental illness such as absenteeism or absenteeism, and the difficulty of adapting. From Incorpora Salud Mental it was highlighted how it is necessary to inform and train companies to normalize this problem and choose to integrate people with mental health issues into their jobs.
Integrates mental health, an innovative and cross-sectional program
Given all these benefits, Integrates mental health La Caixa promotes equal access to the work environment for this group and works to ensure that they remain in the company. In this way, they approach the candidate, diagnose their employability and see in which position they are best suited. In addition, a follow-up is conducted that includes career guidance, company counseling, and support for training in social skills.
This program has an innovative and transversal perspective. The goal is to provide a free advice service to the business community on CSR, which encourages the employment of disadvantaged groups. At the same time, recruitment technicians from social entities throughout Spain support the process and carry out personal monitoring of each case to accompany both employers in their doubts and fears and the worker in adapting to the work environment.
It is about providing a free CSR consulting service to the business community
So far, this program from La Caixa Foundation It has provided job opportunities for 11,725 people with mental disorders. People who, like Javier, have improved their emotional well-being and quality of life, in every way and through the job. “They can save your life in many ways and in subtle ways…” Javier says with a smile “Life can be wonderful.”
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