By Chukwudi Obasi
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Hawkins Deck, has called for greater attention to workers’ psychological wellbeing, warning that stress, anxiety and burnout can undermine productivity and quality of life.
The Deck made the call during an awareness programme to commemorate World Mental Health Day, urging participants to pay greater attention to their emotional wellbeing alongside their physical health.
The programme featured Mrs Stella Amaechi, a psychotherapist with 25 years of experience working in a government rehabilitation centre, who spoke on workplace stress, anxiety, depression and occupational burnout.
Amaechi said emotional wellbeing was an essential component of overall health, influencing how individuals think, feel and behave, as well as their relationships with others.
She identified family challenges, financial pressures, workplace demands, traumatic experiences and inadequate emotional support among factors that could trigger anxiety and other psychological difficulties.
According to her, workplace stress could affect employees irrespective of their positions, particularly where workers face heavy workloads, pressure from supervisors and demanding targets.
She explained that prolonged workplace pressure could result in mental exhaustion, forgetfulness, poor concentration and declining productivity, urging workers to establish healthy boundaries and organise their workloads effectively.
Amaechi also cautioned against dismissing burnout as weakness or laziness, saying prolonged exposure to stress could lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment and reduced productivity.
“Burnout is not a sign of weakness or laziness,” she stressed, urging workers to maintain healthy habits, remain connected with family and friends and seek professional assistance when necessary.
The psychotherapist also called on employers to take greater responsibility for creating psychologically safe workplaces by addressing bullying, harassment and discrimination.
She noted that people’s emotional wellbeing could be influenced by biological, psychological, social and environmental factors, making it necessary for individuals and organisations to adopt a holistic approach.
During an interactive session, participants raised concerns about panic attacks, age-related forgetfulness, the effect of mobile phone use before sleep, erectile dysfunction and the relationship between stress, anxiety and anger.
Amaechi advised participants to maintain healthy sleep patterns, exercise regularly, eat balanced meals and seek professional help where necessary.
The Hawkins Deck initiative also underscored the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding psychological challenges and encouraging people to seek help before such difficulties escalate.
The programme ended with a call for individuals, employers and the wider society to treat emotional wellbeing with the same seriousness accorded to physical health, while stressing that seeking professional assistance should be regarded as a sign of strength rather than weakness.
