By Amos Harris
The Civil Service Agency (CSA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has intensified efforts to promote mental health awareness and employee wellness across Liberia’s public sector through a one-day awareness program held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The program, organized through the CSA’s Occupational Health and Safety Division alongside the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Division, took place at the Dr. C. William Allen Conference Room. It was held under the theme, “Healthy Mind, Stronger Public Service.”
The initiative aimed to increase awareness of mental health challenges, promote emotional well-being among civil servants, and encourage government institutions to establish supportive workplace environments where employees can discuss personal and professional difficulties without fear of discrimination.
Speaking at the event, CSA Director-General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr. emphasized that mental health is essential to employee productivity, sound decision-making, and effective public service delivery. Dr. Joekai explained that personal difficulties, workplace pressures, family conflicts, and economic challenges can negatively affect employees’ concentration, communication, behavior, and overall performance.
He observed that some employees may appear physically present at work while silently struggling with unresolved problems that impair their ability to execute assigned responsibilities effectively. Drawing on his background in human resource management and industrial-organizational psychology, the CSA Director-General urged supervisors and institutional leaders to demonstrate empathy, identify signs of emotional distress, and create safe spaces for open communication among staff.
For his part, Dr. Moses Ziah, Director of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, said the initiative was designed to educate civil servants about mental health conditions, including depression, stress, and other emotional challenges that affect both personal lives and professional performance. Dr. Ziah noted that improving employees’ understanding of mental health helps them recognize signs of emotional distress in themselves and colleagues, encouraging those affected to seek appropriate assistance. He also stressed the critical importance of creating workplaces where employees can openly discuss mental health concerns without fear of judgment, stigma, or discrimination.
The collaboration between the CSA and the Ministry of Health highlights the growing imperative to integrate employee wellness directly into public sector management. However, sustaining this momentum will require continuous awareness campaigns, expanded access to professional support services, and practical policy measures to ensure civil servants experiencing mental health challenges receive meaningful assistance.
Ultimately, the program reinforces the message that mental well-being is vital to a productive workforce and effective government service delivery, as both institutions work toward fostering a culture of empathy, openness, and mutual support across Liberia’s public sector.