Why Mental Health Approach Needs Change In Regional Context

"Mental wellbeing is like a process, it cannot be an ultimate goal, a journey that everyone needs to undertake every single day" - This quote struck a chord with me since I attended a Summit on dance movement therapy and art therapy in 2022.

The pandemic revealed the criticality of mental health for the workforce, highlighting the necessity of a proactive, humanistic approach to dealing with it. As development sector workers, we often overlook our mental well-being, yet to care for others effectively, we must first care for ourselves. This rings even truer for NGO leaders, who must nurture their mental health to steward their organizations effectively.

Regional Context of Mental Health

I hail from the Khasi community of Meghalaya, in the North-eastern part of India. As the leader of Faith Foundation, an indigenous child rights organization operating in Shillong, Meghalaya, we strive to create a safe growth environment for children and adolescents from Khasi tribes. 

Our goal is to empower them by instilling personal safety education, and gender-equitable values and teaching prevention strategies in various educational institutions. This approach aims to reduce the risk of abuse and exploitation, encompassing sexual, physical, and emotional aspects.

However, working here on mental health issues is quite challenging as mental health is often stigmatized as “mental asylums.” Hiring counsellors is either too expensive or too rare to find in our area – thus exacerbating our problem.

Making it safe to discuss mental health issues and de-stigmatizing at the workplace

Mental health struggles are often portrayed in the media as extreme, diagnosable, and visible behaviours that impede an individual's ability to function. What's less commonly understood is that mental and emotional struggles can arise from a broader range of circumstances that could affect any of us. Indeed, the pandemic has created a perfect storm for mental health triggers, with grief over loss and community disruption being significant factors for development sector professionals.

The way leaders discuss mental health plays a crucial role in fostering a safe atmosphere in the workplace. In 2020, amid the pandemic, I recognized the importance of prioritizing my mental health as a leader to create a better working environment. This realization led me to approach our long-term funder and advocate for mental health, the Global Fund for Children. They agreed to fund counselling sessions with a mentor, which had a positive impact on my life.

We implemented a week-long break for our team amid several transitions and personal challenges. The increased workload on other team members further justified the break.

With flexible funding from the Rebuild India Fund, we have been able to introduce a festive allowance bonus for our staff, which has boosted their mental health and well-being through financial stability.

As leaders, I believe it's crucial to embrace vulnerability and talk openly about our emotions rather than assuming a heroic stance. We must allow ourselves to seek help, from funders to employees, recognizing that we, too, require support.

Creating a Supportive Ecosystem

Drawing from personal experiences, I have realized that every organization faces challenges that often go unaddressed due to shame or stigma. Establishing mentorship programs like the CEO Circle by Global Fund for Children, where leaders openly discuss their struggles, can be transformative for leaders from the development sector. By sharing our burdens, we not only find answers but also foster a culture of vulnerability and support, acknowledging that every leader, despite their facade of “heroism”, needs a support system.

Authored by Shannon Dona Massar, Co-Founder at Faith Foundation