WORKPLACE BULLYING AND HARASSMENT AS BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN NIGERIAN - A REVIEW

Lois N. Omaka- Amari, Mary Boniface, David Esther Ihuoma, Michael Okereke Olom, Patricia C. Ngwakwe, Benjamin E. Usulor, Ogueri Emmanuel Obinna, Omaka God’slove Oko, Joy Anulika Alo, Precious Alagu, Esther Adaeze Isaac, Christian O. Aleke

Abstract


Workplace bullying and harassment are a critical barrier to mental health promotion in Nigerian workplaces. This paper highlights how persistent negative behaviours such as verbal abuse, intimidation, exclusion, and sexual harassment undermine employee well-being, organizational productivity, and the broader goals of workplace health promotion. Drawing from global frameworks by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the paper identifies major obstacles, including policy gaps, stigma, inadequate human resource structures, and limited empirical research, which collectively sustain toxic work environments. This finding underscores the psychological, organizational, economic, and societal implications of unchecked workplace bullying and harassment, arguing that sustainable mental health promotion requires integrated interventions at the policy, organizational, and individual levels. The paper concludes that fostering dignity, respect, and psychological safety is essential for achieving healthy and productive Nigerian workplaces.

Keywords


workplace, bullying, harassment, health promotion, mental health, Nigeria

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v9i2.259

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Copyright (c) 2026 Lois N. Omaka- Amari, Mary Boniface, David Esther Ihuoma, Michael Okereke Olom, Patricia C. Ngwakwe, Benjamin E. Usulor, Ogueri Emmanuel Obinna, Omaka God’slove Oko, Joy Anulika Alo, Precious Alagu, Esther Adaeze Isaac, Christian O. Aleke

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