Gaborone, Botswana - 20 September 2019: The UN family in Botswana engaged in various activities that enriched celebration of the UN wellness day. The theme for the day was “A Healthy Body A Healthy Mind” with significant focus on Mental health, especially as it relates to the workplace. In her remarks at the event, Dr Namboze emphasized the importance of everybody contributing to ensure that the workplace is a happy, healthy and safe environment in line with WHO’s definitions of health and mental health. She said WHO looks at health as state of complete wellbeing including the physical, mental and social aspects. She further said that mental health is about wellbeing that enables a person to cope with daily stressors, work productively and contribute to their community. She intimated that this state of wellbeing would help productivity and enhance achievement of organizational goals. She said ability to know yourself particularly your stressors and finding ways to deal with them is important and may even enable one to assist others.

Other speakers included the UN Resident Coordinator Mrs Jacinta Barins who said the UN is focusing attention on mental health as the working environment has many challenges that may lead to stress, depression and other outcomes that may impact on the work environment. The message was also buttressed by a private Psychologist Mr Monde Kote who encouraged people to understand themselves in order that they are better able to deal with daily stressors. He advised participants to always create some “me time” to reflect on the day and see what lessons and experiences they picked and what impact they could have for themselves and others. He advised participants to seek professional help when they are unsure or unable to deal with stressors.

Other activities included physical activity in the form of zumba and an insightful panel discussion moderated by a psychologist and radio personality Tshepo Shoshong. Panelists included mental health activists, people living with mental health conditions and some who had dealt with difficult situations as well as a mental health practitioner from an NGO providing rehabilitation services for people dealing with substance abuse. The District Health Management Team from the Gaborone City Council provided testing for HIV, Blood Pressure and Diabetes. The event was attended by staff and management from across the UN system.