The role of human resource practitioners in dealing with mental health issues in the workplace Post-COVID-19

The existence of a worldwide mental health pandemic can no longer be overlooked according to the World Health Organization. Because of the tremendous stigma associated with mental illness, most research done to date has focused on the detrimental consequences it has on employees’ productivity. The goal of this study is to get a comprehensive knowledge of the role played by human resource practitioners in managing mental health issues after COVID-19. This is accomplished by looking at mental health issues, coping mechanisms, and programmes implemented by human resources post-COVID-19 in the workplace. The research is desktop-based and gathers knowledge utilizing secondary data. To research data, a variety of databases including Google, Google Scholar, Scopus, AOSIS, ProQuest, and institutional repositories, have been utilized. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) analyzed secondary data on mental health concerns. The findings of the study show that the COVID-19 pandemic brought operational changes in the workplace, which led to mental health issues such as stress and depression. The study acknowledges the important role that human resources play in providing support services such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) to promote the well-being of employees in the workplace environment. However, some employees continue to experience mental health challenges at the workplace due to alleged limited support from employers. To provide knowledge regarding the pervasiveness of mental health issues in the workplace, especially in the wake of COVID-19, the study suggests launching mental health awareness initiatives, workshops, and seminars to address mental health challenges faced by employees in the workplace.