O-382 Need for Women-Centric Mental Health Policy as Osh Component

Abstract Introduction Safety and health at work are fundamental to economic growth; and mental health issues are being recognized as a major health hazard.Sadly,very little attention is paid to assessing risks and hazards from a women-specific mental health perspective, despite a growing number of female employees. Method The purpose of this study, conducted on women employees of a PSU company, is to identify and analyze the impact of women specific factors on mental health at workplace, through questionnaires and interviewing. Results Mental health is affected by phases of a woman’s life like menstruation, pregnancy, lactation, menopause and diseases like PCOD, infertility,and cancers,apart from worklife balance issues.Significant correlation was found between mental health and menstrual/ gynaecological ailments. While only 28% perceived themselves in excellent mental state; 10% had training in mental or occupational health.48% women experienced some sort of gender discrimination and career opportunities were lost if they had to take special leave to care for their families. Discussion While women bear the dual stress of juggling career demands with family responsibilities, job issues like long working hours, informal working arrangements,gender discrimination, bullying,sexual harassment and third-party violence along with insensitivity to womanly problems harms mental health and productivity. Fewer women are in senior leadership positions because of glass ceiling effect; toxic and insensitive work environment, lack of career opportunities causing low self-esteem and culminating in mental illness. Conclusion Like any other diversity inclusion exercise, the impact of gender specific mental health on all OSH policies has to be assessed.