Creating a safe work environment for women fosters equality, productivity, and well-being. In countries like Bangladesh, where cultural and social norms often shape workplace dynamics, it is crucial to implement specific measures that ensure women feel secure and respected at their respective workplaces. Ways to Ensure Women’s Safety in the Workplace Implementing Strict Anti-Harassment Policies Implementing a comprehensive Sexual Harassment Policy is crucial for any organisation, regardless of size. This policy should clearly define what constitutes sexual harassment, including both physical and verbal forms, and provide examples to ensure understanding. A zero-tolerance approach must be emphasised, making it clear that any form of harassment will not be tolerated under any circumstances.  The policy should also educate employees about inappropriate conduct and outline the reporting procedures. Importantly, the Sexual Harassment Policy must specify the consequences for offenders, ensuring that there is no ambiguity about the seriousness of the organisation’s view of preserving the female workers’ safety.  Read more: Which Vitamins are Essential for Women? Providing Gender Sensitivity Training Providing gender sensitivity training is an essential step on the path of ensuring women's safety in the workplace. These training programs should be mandatory for all employees and cover topics like respectful communication, unconscious bias, and the importance of gender equality. In a country like Bangladesh, where traditional gender roles are deeply ingrained, such trainings are particularly impactful in building awareness about ensuring women’s safety at workplaces.  Unconscious biases, though common, can be mitigated through education and training. The senior management and HR teams of organisations should be educated about different types of biases. Training can enable management and employees to recognize and challenge these biases, fostering a safer and more inclusive workplace.  Establishing a Safe Reporting Mechanism Establishing a safe reporting mechanism is vital for ensuring women's safety in the workplace. Women need to feel confident that they can report harassment or unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation. Implementing anonymous reporting options, such as a hotline, an online system, or a dedicated HR representative, can encourage more women to come forward.  Read more: Proven Passive Income Ideas for Women in 2024 All reports must be taken seriously, with prompt and appropriate action taken to address any issues. By creating an environment where women feel safe and supported in reporting concerns, organizations can maintain trust and uphold a culture of respect and safety.  Creating a Supportive Workplace Culture Creating a supportive workplace culture is essential for ensuring the safety of female employees. Employers should foster an environment of open communication, where employees feel safe to express their concerns without fear of judgement, mocking, or retaliation. Encouraging mutual respect and support among colleagues can significantly reduce the risk of harassment and discrimination.  This inclusive culture not only helps prevent issues but also promotes a sense of belonging and security for all employees. By prioritising respect and collaboration, organisations can build a workplace where everyone, especially women, feels valued, protected, and empowered to thrive.  Read more: How to raise happy, confident, strong girls Regularly Conducting Safety Audits This is crucial for ensuring women's safety in the workplace. These audits should thoroughly assess all aspects of safety, including physical infrastructure, security measures, employee behaviour, etc. By identifying potential risks early, organisations can take immediate action to address them, preventing accidents or incidents before they occur.  Regular audits also help maintain a high standard of safety, ensuring that the workplace remains a secure environment for everyone. Prioritising these evaluations reinforces the organisation’s commitment to protecting its employees, and creating a safer and more trustworthy workplace for women.  Implementing Safe Transport Facilities Implementing safe transport facilities is vital for ensuring the safety of female employees, particularly in Bangladesh, where public transport can often be unsafe. Companies can enhance security by offering shuttle services, especially for women working late shifts. Alternatively, they can collaborate with reliable transport providers to guarantee safe and secure commutes for their employees.  Read more: Top 10 International Scholarships for Women to Study Abroad By taking these measures, organisations not only protect their employees but also demonstrate their commitment to creating a supportive and secure work environment. It allows women to focus on their work without worrying about their safety during their commute.  Developing an Internal Complaints Committee  Developing an internal complaints committee in an organisation is crucial for addressing workplace harassment and ensuring women’s safety. In Bangladesh, many organisations still lack proper mechanisms, leaving women hesitant to report abuse. However, such committees must include trained individuals, including women participants.  The committee should be responsible for investigating complaints within 90 days and issuing a report within 10 days. Developing an effective internal complaints committee is essential for creating a safe environment where female employees feel confident to report verbal and sexual harassment, knowing their concerns will be handled with sensitivity and fairness.  Read more: 8 Safe Motorcycle Riding Tips for Women Collaboration with External Organizations Partnering with NGOs, government bodies, or external organisations is a valuable strategy for enhancing women’s safety in the workplace. These collaborations can bring in specialised resources, such as training programs, legal advice, counselling, and support services, which might not be available internally.  Additionally, such partnerships help organisations stay updated with the latest safety practices and legal requirements, ensuring compliance and best practices. By leveraging the expertise of these external entities, companies can create a more comprehensive and effective approach to protecting their female employees. Encouraging Mental Health Support Mental well-being is a critical component of workplace safety, especially for women. Companies should offer counselling services and foster a supportive environment where women can seek help for psychological distress caused by stress, harassment, or exclusion. The mental health challenges stemming from gender-based violence, lack of inclusion, and demanding work conditions can lead to issues like anxiety, depression, and even substance use disorders.  Read more: Is Gym Good for Women? Research indicates that women who feel excluded are at higher risk of workplace incidents due to increased stress. Promoting mental health awareness and support are essential to ensuring women's safety and job satisfaction, reducing turnover, and creating a healthier workplace culture. Equal Opportunities  Promoting gender equality in hiring, promotions, and leadership roles is essential for ensuring women’s safety and empowerment in the workplace. Companies should commit to equal pay for equal work and regularly review compensation packages to eliminate gender disparities. Providing equal opportunities for advancement, training, and professional development helps empower women and fosters a more inclusive work environment.  Additionally, adopting hiring practices that prioritise diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ensures a diverse workforce and a culture of fairness. By championing gender equality at all levels, organisations create a safer, more supportive environment where women can thrive.  Read more: Best Free Personal Safety Android, iOS Apps for Women in 2024 Healthcare Facilities  To ensure women's safety and well-being in the workplace, it is essential to provide accessible healthcare services and maintain clean, private restrooms. For menstruating women, facilities must be sanitised, well-stocked, and functional to support health and dignity.  Additionally, flexible working hours and adequate maternity leave are crucial. Providing dedicated spaces for nursing reflects a commitment to valuing and retaining talented employees. These measures go beyond mere compliance, fostering a supportive environment that enhances morale and demonstrates respect for women’s needs in the workplace. Takeaways Ensuring women’s safety in the workplace is not just about adhering to legal requirements; it is about creating an environment where every employee feels valued, respected, and secure. In Bangladesh, where cultural dynamics often influence workplace behaviour, these measures are especially critical. By implementing these strategies, organisations can make significant strides toward fostering a safer and more inclusive workplace for women. Read more: Workplace stress affecting women in Bangladesh needs attention

Mental health support must be included in national responses to climate change, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday at the Stockholm+50 environmental summit. Climate change poses serious risks to people's mental health and well-being, the UN agency said in a new policy brief, which concurs with a report published in February by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC study revealed that rapidly increasing climate change is a rising threat to mental health and psychosocial well-being, from emotional distress to anxiety, depression, grief, and suicidal behaviour. "The impacts of climate change are increasingly becoming part of our daily lives, and there is very little dedicated mental health support available for people and communities dealing with climate-related hazards and long-term risk," said Dr Maria Neira, director of the WHO's Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health. The mental health impacts of climate change are unequally distributed, with certain groups disproportionately affected depending on factors such as socioeconomic status, gender and age, according to the WHO brief. Read: WHO believes COVID getting worse, not better in North Korea However, the UN agency said it was clear that climate change affects many of the social determinants that already are leading to massive mental health burdens globally. Out of 95 countries surveyed last year, only nine included mental health and psychosocial support in their national health and climate change plans. "The impact of climate change is compounding the already extremely challenging situation for mental health and mental health services globally. Nearly one billion people are living with mental health conditions. In low and middle-income countries, three out four do not have access to needed services," said Dévora Kestel, director of the WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. "By ramping up mental health and psychosocial support within disaster risk reduction and climate action, countries can do more to help protect those most at risk," she added. Read: WHO: Monkeypox won’t turn into pandemic, but many unknowns The WHO urged the governments to integrate climate considerations with mental health programmes, merge mental health support with climate action, and build upon their global commitments.  Authorities should also develop community-based approaches to reduce vulnerabilities, and close the large funding gap that currently exists for mental health and psychosocial support, it said. Among the pioneering countries cited in the WHO report is The Philippines, which rebuilt and improved its mental health services after super typhoon Haiyan in 2013, reportedly one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded. India also scaled up disaster risk reduction while at the same time preparing cities to respond to climate risks and address mental health and psychosocial needs.

Proper counseling and treatment can cure mental problems completely like other physical problems. Since mental health complications are not like physical pain, many do not understand when they should actually seek mental health support. Moreover, family or social taboos also stand in the way. With that not, World Mental Health 2021 is going to observe on October 10 with the theme, 'Mental health in an unequal world.' So, when should a person seek help for mental problems? And how to support people with mental health problems? We will get to know about mental health support in this article. What is a mental health problem? The actual definition of mental illness varies according to country, culture, and people. Hence, there is no unified definition of mental health problems. However, some common words are used to indicate mental illness. For example, psychological problems, mental health, headache, etc., are used to indicate mental illness. Read: Memory loss: Types, symptoms, and when to seek help How to understand if anyone is suffering from mental illness? When a person's behavior changes drastically, especially the emotional expression changes, which starts to affect the daily activities, in such cases, one should understand that the person is not mentally stable. Apart from these symptoms, there are some specific issues that may indicate a mental health problem. Usually, people with mental illness suddenly become excited. People are also seen keeping themselves away from everyone for a long time. Staying upset for more than two weeks in a row can be a sign of mental health problems. Quarrels with everyone and don't want to talk to anyone can be the symptoms too. Other symptoms are hearing some irrelevant sounds, unnecessarily doubting, not taking care by stopping doing regular daily activities like bathing or brushing teeth, and dissatisfaction and loss of interest in the activities that bring happiness. Sometimes, people stop themselves from making any sort of social relationships, thinking negatively about themselves or feeling responsible for everything, decisiveness or loss of concentration, and plan suicidal thoughts and attempts. Read: Covid-19 Brain Fog: How to improve memory power and brain health after Covid In some cases, sleep may be reduced abnormally or increase, feel an aversion to food or increased appetite and loss of interest in home, office, or professional work. However, these problems do not mean that the person has a mental illness. But if anyone has these signs or symptoms, the person should talk to a psychiatrist. After that, the doctor can analyze it and understand whether any action should be taken.

Countries across the world, including Bangladesh, will observe World Mental Health Day Sunday, at a time when there has been a "worldwide failure to provide people with the mental health services they need as the Covid-19 pandemic is highlighting a growing need for mental health support." The day is observed every year on October 10 across the world for raising awareness about mental health. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of World Mental Health Day 2021 whose theme is "Mental Health in an Unequal World." "Mental health problems have significantly increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic," President Hamid said. He stressed the need for family and social support for patients with mental health issues along with treatment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the development of mental health alongside physical health is vital for building a happy and prosperous nation. She directed the concerned authorities to work in a way that mental health services can be brought to the doorsteps of people. Read: World misses most 2020 mental health targets: WHO

The thing about a global crisis like COVID-19 is that people often think of it as a “great equalizer”, it affects the whole world and somehow makes everyone suffer equally. When people living in peaceful countries were hit by COVID-19, they thought that they finally experienced the suffering they always thought was reserved for people who live in less fortunate countries who experience this regularly. They could not be more wrong.