By Dr. Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste
Mental health has moved from the fringes of healthcare discussions to become a vital part of how we live, work, and thrive. This year's theme for World Mental Health Day, Mental Health at Work, aptly shines a spotlight on the importance of addressing mental well-being in workplaces—where many of us spend most of our time.
While work can provide purpose and stability, it can also be a source of immense stress and anxiety. More than half of the global population (60%) works. As of 2019, approximately 15% of working-age adults were living with a mental disorder. This alone is a call to action: with such a large portion of the global working population already battling mental health issues, a decent workplace plays a key role in supporting mental well-being.
Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost each year to depression and anxiety, costing almost US$1 trillion in lost productivity. These figures make it clear: mental health at work is not just a moral issue—it’s an economic one too.
In places like Timor-Leste, this conversation takes on a particularly urgent tone. With 72% of the population under the age of 35, and the working-age population expected to rise sharply by 2050 (from 32% in 2015), the country faces unique challenges.
In Timor-Leste, where up to 70% of the growing workforce operates in the informal sector, tracking mental health issues is tougher, but that doesn’t make them any less critical.
Compounding this, Timor-Leste's overall mental health landscape is deeply challenging. With no recent data available, the 2016 Global Burden of Disease study estimated that nearly 12% of the population is affected by mental health and substance use disorders.
Other surveys conducted in schools have also found high prevalence of suicidal ideation among children, which is extremely concerning. These figures only scratch the surface of the true extent of mental health challenges in the country.
A significant gap in mental health services and trained professionals for mental health still exists. The few services that are available are concentrated in Dili. For those in rural areas, access to mental healthcare is limited to nonexistent. The treatment gap is made worse by the lack of a mental health law and relevant local data.
For Timor-Leste to truly advance, mental health must become a national priority.
It’s time for change, and fortunately, progress has already begun. The WHO and Ministry of Health are working to update the National Mental Health Strategy Plan for 2025-2030, which will focus on more structured approach to addressing mental health needs in educational institutions, the workplace, and broader society.
I am pleased to note Ministry of Health plans for strengthening existing facilities and develop an advanced psychiatry specialty center as part of building strong mental health infrastructure along with training more professionals. Let me reiterate the need for integrating mental health into workplace policies too, especially as more young people enter the workforce.
A key step forward is the ongoing integration of mental health into the school health program. With KOICA support, WHO Timor Leste is supporting Ministry of Health and Education in piloting this in one school and this initiative is set for nationwide expansion. Additionally, efforts are underway to integrate mental health into other national programs as part of integrated service delivery policy (PIS-Program Integrado Saude).
This World Mental Health Day, the message is clear: we must push for transformative change in how we address mental health at work and within society. Often our family members, friends and colleagues suffer in silence due to the stigma and discrimination attached to mental health issue.
Our workplaces must become safe spaces. Employers, too, have a crucial role to play. By creating an enabling environment and fostering a culture that values mental well-being, they can reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and create environments where employees feel valued.
In Timor-Leste, where the challenges are both complex and unique, this change is not only necessary but urgent.
Making mental health at workplace a priority is not just a good policy- it is the right thing to do. The 2024 theme is a call for action—it's time to create workplaces where mental health is seen, heard, and supported.