‘We need more reverse mentoring and cross-functional training among teams’

At e4m PR & Corp Comm 30 under 30 Summit 2024, a panel of industry experts discussed the ‘Importance of Mental health and Well-being in Corporate World’, sharing insights into the need for organisations and individuals to prioritize mental health and wellness. 

The session was moderated by Shivani Gupta, Managing Partner, SPAG FINN Partners. The panel included Namita Narula, Head of Corporate Communications, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Geetika Bangia, Head-Corporate Communications, Stryker, Dr. Mahima Bakshi, Founder, Birthing Naturally, and Ajey Maharaj, Head - Corporate Communications & PR, Fortis Healthcare.

The session began with a deep dive into the post-COVID world and the pandemic’s impact on the industry’s understanding of mental health. Bangia explained how organizations have started realizing that the more their employees face mental health issues, the more it impacts their business. “It hits hard on the productivity of the employees and trickles down to the culture and other aspects of the organization,” she said. 

Taking the conversation further, Gupta asked the panel to talk about the role of leadership in creating spaces that consider mental health. “Leadership needs to imbibe it into their culture and ensure that people don’t feel scared to speak up,” said Maharaj. He added an observation that the GenZ generation is much better at coming forward and speaking about mental health.

“We need more reverse mentoring and cross-functional training among teams. We need more programs where people come together and collaborate, irrespective of the mentor’s age,” added Narula. She explained that employees in the GenZ and 50+ age groups need to respect each other and be willing to learn from each other. 

The conversation then moved to the mental health of women returning to work as new mothers. “For maternal-child health in India, organizations need to pay more attention to their policies related to maternity and childcare leaves. Organizations also need to enhance the policies for fathers as they need to be around for support,” said Dr Bakshi. 

The panel concluded by asserting the importance of digital detox and limited screen time, along with the need to spend time with family and friends as a means to have good mental health.