The Ministry of Health of Peru emphasized the importance of promoting mental health in workplaces as part of International Workers’ Day, according to a May 1 statement. The announcement was made through the Directorate of Mental Health and underlined that mental well-being is key for individual welfare, productivity, and national development.
Workplace mental health directly affects motivation, concentration, performance, and interpersonal relationships. Extended working hours, chronic stress, workplace violence, economic uncertainty, and lack of balance between personal and professional life can all negatively impact emotional well-being.
The Pan American Health Organization estimated in 2019 that 15 percent of working-age adults had a mental disorder. It also reported that each year about 12 billion workdays are lost globally due to depression and anxiety—representing an estimated cost of $1 trillion from lost productivity. These figures show the need for preventive actions and healthier workplace environments.
July Caballero Peralta, director at the Directorate of Mental Health within the Ministry of Health (MINSA), said: “A healthy work environment favors emotional well-being, strengthens team commitment and improves quality of life. Taking care of mental health also means taking care of the country’s development.”
Key recommendations from MINSA include fostering respectful communication in workplaces, encouraging active breaks during shifts, preventing workplace harassment, recognizing employee efforts, promoting healthy leadership styles and seeking professional support when needed.
The ministry said it is advancing initiatives to strengthen approaches to workplace mental health by developing technical spaces among institutions aimed at creating guidelines to prevent psychosocial risks and promote healthy work environments. MINSA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting mental health in all areas where people live—stating that dignified and healthy employment is fundamental for overall population well-being.
