Women leaders tackle mental resilience in the workplace

Mental health disorder in the workplace has been increasingly recognized as a gnawing problem given the huge impact on the economy and society as a whole.

The World Health Organization estimates that 12 billion working days are lost every year due to depression and anxiety at a cost of $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. Based on the Asia Mental Health Index, 60 percent of Filipinos say their mental health affects their productivity.

To address mental health in the workplace, employers are advised to integrate a holistic approach by actively seeking out and engaging with their workers, which will hopefully reduce absenteeism, boost productivity and foster a healthy working environment.

The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (Towns) Foundation recently hosted a special fireside discussion titled “Female muscles, healthy movement and building mental strength”. The panelists include Bong Coo (1986 awardee for sports); Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo (2016 awardee for sports); Ani de Leon Brown (2013 awardee for sports) and Gina Hechanova Alampay (2010 awardee for psychology). Gang Badoy-Capati (2010 awardee for education) moderated the discussion while Ces Drilon (2004 awardee for journalism) hosted the event on Nov. 12.

All panelists agree that sports is the most fertile ground to build mental resilience. It provides a venue for athletes to develop true grit that reduces anxiety and helps them reach their full potential. The same cognitive-behavioral training for peak performance can also be emulated in the workplace to properly respond to work-related stress.

Here are some of the tips shared by the panel:

1. Develop mental resilience. Mental resilience is like a muscle that can be harnessed to full strength. But like all muscles, it’s either you use it or lose it. “It’s not just a personality trait, it’s a skill that you can develop,” says Alampay, who is a trailblazing pyschologist and mental health advocate.

Brown, a triathlon icon and the first Filipina to qualify for the Ironman World Championships twice, says that everything begins with the proper mindset. As a coach, she wants to teach her wards that before reaching your goals, first you have to have enough grit to “train your mental and emotional muscles.”

2. Learn the art of reframing. These athletes are no strangers to crushing defeat, but instead of dwelling on their mistakes, they choose to look at the bright side. “Reframing is the ability to turn a negative thought and think about it in a different way,” Alampay adds.

Coo, a four-time bowling world champion, recounts that she never cried whenever she lost a game. “I only cry when I win,” she adds. After suffering a loss, she would review the video of her opponent. “I’d start training again and make sure that the next time I meet her, I won’t lose to her anymore,” she says.

3. Learn to pause. Diaz-Naranjo, the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the 2020 Olympics, recounts a time when she only had two items on her to-do list: train and compete. A knee injury in 2014 taught her that even top athletes also deserve a break. “I was advised by my support group to slow down and rest. Go to the mall or just wear a lipstick,” she quips. Alampay describes these “little pauses” as quick mindfulness exercise. Clear your head even for just 30 seconds in a day, she advises. “Sometimes, the biggest inspiration comes when you are silent,” she adds.

Towns search

Meanwhile, the search is on for the next batch of outstanding Filipino women who have made inroads in various capacities, served as good role models and contributed significantly to the improvement of society. The award is given to eight to 12 women adjudged to be the most outstanding across various disciplines. The deadline for nominations will be on June 30, 2025. Application forms and primer can be downloaded at: townsfoundation.org.ph.