Approximately 100,000 individuals in Mauritius face varying forms and severities of mental health challenges.
In 2022, approximately 80,000 psychiatric consultations were recorded in regional hospitals, health centers, and clinics across Mauritius, highlighting a concerning trend in the nation’s mental health landscape.
During an address at the MGI auditorium in Moka on Tuesday, March 19th, Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal emphasized the critical importance of mental health awareness, especially among the younger population.
Minister Jagutpal urged the youth not to shy away from expressing their emotions amidst the pressures of academia.
“It’s often easy to overlook our mental well-being during schooling. We often prioritize grades, deadlines, and educational demands, inadvertently neglecting the most crucial aspect of our existence – our mental health,” he underscored.
Recognizing the demanding nature of student life, the minister stressed that mental health support is essential to effectively cope with these pressures.
Promoting a culture where seeking help for mental health issues is seen as an act of courage and self-care rather than weakness, Minister Jagutpal stated, “Anxiety, stress, substance abuse, and suicide have become critical problems that impact the well-being of individuals and communities.”
He also highlighted data from Our World in Data, revealing that around 11.4% of the Mauritian population grapples with mental health disorders or substance abuse.
Mental Health Challenges
Furthermore, Minister Jagutpal shed light on the concerning statistics which suggested that approximately 100,000 individuals in Mauritius face varying forms and severities of mental health challenges.
He added, “This means that around 100,000 people in Mauritius are dealing with mental health issues. In 2022, roughly 80,000 psychiatric consultations were performed in regional hospitals, health centers, and clinics. The rise in mental health cases could indicate either an increase in the prevalence of mental illnesses or a higher inclination of individuals to seek assistance for the first time.”
Touching upon the issue of alcohol consumption in the workplace, Minister Jagutpal disclosed that in 2020, the prevalence of alcohol abuse in Mauritius had decreased to 15.4% from 19.1% in 2015.
Between 10% and 30% of employees exhibit risky alcohol consumption behaviours, warranting the need for preventive interventions. Notably, 628 new public sector employees received integration training that included a segment on alcohol and substance abuse delivered by the Health Ministry.
Highlighting that alcohol accounts for approximately 3 to 5% of absenteeism at the workplace, leading to a loss in productivity, poor performance, delays, safety concerns, misconduct, and negative implications on the organization’s reputation and customer service.
The health minister pointed out that most workplace issues related to alcohol consumption stem from two primary forms – pre-work and during-work consumption.
Alcohol testing holds particular significance in the workplace as it directly impacts performance impairment, particularly when compared with other substances.
Minister Jagutpal concluded by noting that even within the Health Ministry itself, which employs over 15,000 individuals, several cases of alcohol consumption in the workplace have been identified.
Source: l’Express
