Silent crisis in Sri Lankan workplaces

• Why mental health is now a business imperative

By Rukaiya Riza

As Sri Lanka’s corporate sector recalibrates after the pandemic, companies are racing to adapt to digital change and build resilience. But while managements talk innovation, agility and transformation, a quieter crisis is unfolding behind office doors, one that could undermine every productivity gain: mental health.

For decades, it was the unspoken subject in boardrooms. Today, psychiatrists and psychologists are warning that mental well-being is no longer a personal concern; it’s a business issue with real costs in absenteeism, disengagement and turnover.

“Mental health is the number one reason people skip work,” said Dr. Ganesan, a senior consultant psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience. 

“When psychological problems or disorders are left unattended, productivity drops. That directly affects performance in every sector.”

He pointed to a pattern that runs deeper than individual burnout. Absenteeism, loss of concentration and chronic stress, he said, are symptoms of outdated management thinking, rigid work cultures, hierarchical leadership and a lack of emotional intelligence.

“Many Sri Lankan companies are still run by managers from an older generation who believe tough talk drives results,” he noted. 

“But for today’s workforce, that approach often fuels fear and disengagement. The world has changed. Leadership needs to change with it.”

A culture under pressure

Across industries, from technology to healthcare to education, signs of strain are surfacing.

“The IT and BPO sectors experience high stress from night shifts and isolation. Healthcare workers, especially nurses, face emotional exhaustion. Teachers struggle under performance pressure and unrealistic expectations,” Dr. Ganesan said.

Yet, even as awareness grows, stigma remains a formidable barrier. 

“In Sri Lanka, saying ‘I need a Mental Health Day’ is almost a joke,” he said. 

“Corporate culture still expects the employees to look invincible. That denial leads people to unhealthy coping mechanisms — from alcohol use to aggression at home.”

Leadership that learns to listen

Both Dr. Ganesan and psychologist counsellor Nazreen Nilam agreed that meaningful change starts at the top.

“The first step is for leaders to model vulnerability. When a manager admits they’re having a tough day, it gives others permission to speak honestly too.”

He urged the HR departments to move beyond one-off wellness sessions or token campaigns and build policies that are alive in daily practice, on gender, disability, respect and inclusivity. 

“Policies shouldn’t gather dust in files; they should shape everyday behaviour and create a culture of emotional safety,” he said.

Empathy as a business advantage

Nilam opined that human problems don’t stay at home when the employees come to work. Family conflict, financial stress or health concerns follow people into the office.

“They can lead to fatigue and irritability, often mistaken for poor attitude. This is where empathy from leaders becomes essential.”

She stressed that companies must move from being performance-first to people-first. When managers open up about their own stress, it normalises help-seeking, she explained. 

“Confidential counselling, wellness check-ins and flexible hours are not perks — they’re performance enablers.”

Road ahead: From awareness to accountability

Change, the experts believe, is inevitable — especially as Sri Lanka integrates further into the global business culture where mental health is part of corporate strategy.

“Once companies realise that better mental health equals better productivity, investment in employee well-being will become a business priority,” Dr. Ganesan noted.

He recommended that organisations go back to the basics, encouraging good sleep hygiene, regular exercise, balanced nutrition and stronger social connection.

“When people feel valued as human beings, not just as output generators, their performance naturally improves,” he added.

New corporate currency: Psychological safety

With Sri Lanka’s workforce growing younger, more diverse and more vocal, the definition of success is shifting. Productivity, creativity and loyalty, the experts said, are all outcomes of one foundation — psychological safety.

“In a business environment where every company is fighting to attract and retain talent, investing in mental health is not optional anymore,” said Nilam. 

“It’s the smartest business decision a company can make.”

World Mental Health Day

Today, October 10, is the World Mental Health Day; the overall objective of the World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health.

The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

This World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is uniting with the partners to highlight the vital connection between mental health and work. 

“Safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health. Unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination and exposure to risks like harassment and other poor working conditions, can pose significant risks, affecting mental health, overall quality of life and consequently participation or productivity at work. 

With 60 percent of the global population in work, urgent action is needed to ensure work prevents risks to mental health and protects and supports mental health at work,” the WHO said in its message for Mental Health at Work this year.

It stressed it is essential for governments, employers, the organisations which represent workers and employers and other stakeholders responsible for workers’ health and safety to work together to improve mental health at work. 

“Action to address mental health at work should be done with the meaningful involvement of workers and their representatives and persons with lived experience of mental health conditions. By investing efforts and resources in evidence-based approaches and interventions at work, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive at work and in life. Let’s take action today for a healthier future,” it said.

• Mental health absenteeism is a rising cause of lost productivity.
• Rigid management culture and lack of emotional intelligence are key stress triggers.
• Younger employees expect empathetic leadership and psychological safety.
• Experts urge companies to move from token wellness initiatives to systemic change.