In commemoration of World Mental Health Day, FriendnPal, Spurt!, and Belpma Diet and Wellness organised a webinar, tagged “Nourishing Minds, Thriving Workplaces: The Intersection of Mental Health, Workplace Wellbeing, and Nutrition.”
October 10th marks the global observance of World Mental Health Day, with this year’s focus on mental health in the workplace. The virtual event brought together experts Olusegun Iyejare (Mental Health Counsellor, FriendnPal), Precious Maduabuchi (Lead Dietitian, Belpma Diet and Wellness), and Princess Edokpayi (COO & Co-founder, Spurt!) to explore the interplay between mental health, nutrition, and workplace productivity.
Iyejare highlighted the significant impact of mental health on productivity, stating “Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety at a cost of US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity”. He emphasised the importance of mental clarity, emotional balance, and inner peace in achieving peak productivity.
Maduabuchi stressed the role of diet in mood regulation, noting that poor nutrition contributes to low mood, and recommended incorporating foods rich in essential nutrients to support mental health.
Princess Edokpayi focused on creating a supportive workplace culture, emphasising the need for employers to prioritise mental health, encourage open communication, and provide resources for employees. “The workplace can either exacerbate or alleviate mental health issues,” Edokpayi said. “Employers must foster a culture of empathy, understanding, and support.”
Representatives from FriendnPal, Spurt!, and Belpma Diet and Wellness spoke about their solution-driven products and services.
Onyinye Nebechukwu (Product Manager at FriendnPal) encouraged participants to download the first African AI mental health support app with multilingual capability, the FriendnPal app, for easy access to mental health resources and announced a 10% discount on FriendnPal’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for organisations subscribing in October.
Miracle Ebenezer (Dietitian at Belpma Diet and Wellness) announced that participants can access free consultations throughout October by sending a message to the company’s Instagram page, @belpmadietwellness.
Princess Edokpayi highlighted Spurt!’s services, leveraging digital and social technologies to trigger transformative business growth and improve employee productivity.
In closing remarks, the Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement at FriendnPal, Dr. Temidayo Bakare emphasised that mental health is a collective societal concern. “We must work together to create a culture that prioritises mental wellbeing.”