By Tanaka John Marindire, Own Correspondent
Zimbabwe’s workplaces are evolving rapidly with longer hours, heavier workloads, and increasing performance demands becoming the new normal. Yet while many organisations focus on productivity, profits and efficiency, one essential pillar of success is often overlooked that is employees’ mental health. Prioritising workplace mental health and psychological support is not a luxury, it is a moral and economic necessity that strengthens individuals, organizations, and the nation as a whole.
Who is most at risk?
All professions should be considered; teachers handle large classes and the daily pressure of shaping young minds. Mineworkers and factory employees endure physically demanding work and safety risks. Long-distance drivers and delivery staff spend extended hours away from family while dealing with fatigue and road stress. Security guards, call-centre operators, and office workers also experience psychological strain due to constant supervision, job insecurity, and high workloads. These individuals carry both physical fatigue and the emotional burden of their demanding responsibilities.
The costs of ignoring mental health
When mental health is neglected, the impact is felt by everyone and this can be seen through the manifestation of burnouts, mental health disorders such as anxiety, sleeping disorders, depression and even the reduction of production can be noticed. Mistakes become common in critical sectors like healthcare, transport, and manufacturing. Poor mental health also causes tension among co-workers, damages morale and harms an organization’s image. For Zimbabwe’s already strained economy, failing to address mental health in the workplace leads to long-term losses in productivity and human potential.
The crucial role of mental health practitioners
Professional mental health practitioners including clinical social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists play a vital role in maintaining workplace wellbeing. They provide structured and confidential spaces where employees can express emotions, learn coping skills and receive early intervention before problems escalate. Their expertise allows for accurate assessment, prevention of severe mental disorders and guidance for employers on creating healthier work environments.
The business case for mental health support
Supporting mental health is both ethical and financially sound. Healthy employees perform better, show stronger commitment, and make fewer costly errors. Lower absenteeism and reduced staff turnover save companies substantial amounts over time. Workplaces that provide psychological support also attract skilled workers, build stronger reputations, and foster loyalty. When employees feel cared for, they work with greater passion and purpose benefiting everyone from management to clients.
Conclusion
Zimbabwe’s workforce is the backbone of its economy, yet too many employees silently battle emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and hopelessness. The presence of qualified mental health practitioners in every workplace is not optional but essential. Their professional guidance can transform workplaces from stressful environments into supportive, thriving communities. Prioritising mental health care and psychological support is more than an act of compassion, it is an investment in the nation’s most valuable resource that is its people. When employees are mentally healthy, businesses flourish, families strengthen, and Zimbabwe moves closer to sustainable development.
Tanaka John Marindire
MSc in Counselling Psychology Graduate
