[Davos 2020] Mental Health Also Poses Economic and Political Risks

As introduced in the first installment, the 2020 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting (commonly known as the "Davos Meeting") is said to have shifted its focus toward building a sustainable society. Climate change and plastic reduction dominated the agenda, with the active participation of young people representing the next generation standing out.

Amidst this, mental health has also been gaining attention since last year, particularly within the community of young people involved with the Forum. This report focuses on mental health, where extensive discussions took place, ranging from promoting investment and policy changes to developing support programs and concrete actions.

*The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting was held from January 21 to 24, 2020.

Why the Focus on Mental Health Now?

Currently, approximately 400 million people worldwide are affected by mental health issues, with many of these problems beginning in individuals aged 24 or younger. While the economic losses due to a shrinking workforce are significant, it is also suggested that mental health can negatively impact economic systems, policies, and operations.

The 2019 Global Risks Report featured "emotions" as a human-related global risk for the first time. This focus stems from two key points:

・Accumulating evidence that "psychological and emotional well-being is declining" due to social and economic anxieties

・Mental health issues are now impacting social cohesion and politics, reaching a point where they should be considered broader global risks

We are now in a state where the potential for erroneous decision-making and flawed management judgments stemming from human psychological states is significantly heightened.

The keys are "empathy" and "social connection."

The Forum's Global Risks Report addresses mental health issues emerging across three domains: society, technology, and work. Commonly observed factors include a "lack of empathy" and "lack of connection," which are linked to "loneliness" and "communication deficits."

Recent research points to technology as a factor contributing to "loneliness." While technology facilitates connectivity, studies show that empathy (the ability to consider another's perspective) is six times weaker in digital interactions than in real-world ones.

Furthermore, within closed communities, the phenomenon of the "digital echo chamber" can occur, where individuals interact only with those who share their opinions, leading them to believe specific viewpoints or aggressive ideas are correct. Additionally, the "filter bubble" is a concern, where filter functions display only content matching user preferences, resulting in exposure to biased information. Discussions about the nature and importance of connection and empathy are likely to intensify in the future.

Action-oriented initiatives gain momentum from the 2019 "Davos Meeting"

The 2019 "Davos Conference" featured "#TimeToAct on mental health," followed by "#TimeToInvest" in 2020, intensifying discussions on mental health.

Particularly notable was Prince William's appearance as a panelist in 2019. Alongside Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, he launched the charity campaign "Heads Together" (※1). He mentioned that initially, they struggled to gain support from other celebrities. Mental health is a sensitive topic, and the term itself carries negative connotations, making it difficult to discuss. Referring to how the UK often deals with emotional wounds by suppressing feelings, he argued that we should change this negative perception, talk more openly, and be more emotionally transparent.

※1= Heads Together
A campaign launched by the Royal Foundation and seven charities. It runs multiple projects to eliminate stigma around mental health, including organizing charity marathons, recruiting volunteers for telephone counseling, and disseminating information about mental health issues.

The approach to mental health is shifting away from discreetly seeking help from psychiatrists and toward valuing human emotions and fostering open dialogue.

"JOY" was a keyword in many sessions

One panel discussion focused on the "joy gap" in the workplace. According to a survey by management consulting firm Carney, while most people want to feel joy at work, only about half actually do. Participants shared ideas on how to bridge this gap.

Among them, Fatima Azzahra El Azzouzi (*2) said that dialogue is necessary to change corporate culture, and that emotional literacy (the ability to understand and use emotions) is essential for that dialogue. Citing Microsoft as an example, where small groups have time to discuss empathy, she said that repeating such sessions will change the atmosphere of the company.

※2＝Fatima Azzahra El Azzouzi
While working as an engineer at Microsoft Canada, she also serves as a mental health advocate. She is a central figure in advancing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion sector within the Global Shapers Community, the World Economic Forum's committee for next-generation young leaders.

Another program at the "Davos Meeting" featured a workshop titled "JOY." Participants climbed a snowy mountain, enjoyed the natural scenery, discussed what brings joy to each other, meditated, and ended by singing together.

Participants took a lift to the session venue atop the mountain

The "JOY" session

Not only did we experience joy through nature, music, and meditation, but by talking about our feelings and sharing enjoyment with each other—people who initially didn't even know each other's names—we gradually formed a comfortable community.

The 2020 Davos Conference offered a suggestion: in an era of advancing technology and increasing diversity, what may be essential is sharing emotions and building empathy.