Discussions about supporting mental health at work are being reinterpreted in unprecedented ways worldwide. As a result, they are finally undergoing a revolution era of mental health. The demand for workplace mental health initiatives is here to stay — and it is growing significantly. As a result, employers must improve their ability to manage and support mental health at work.
As a result, employees must emphasize emotional well-being to have a healthy and engaged workforce. But, on the other hand, employees aren’t just looking for improved support for employee mental health in the workplace; they’re also expecting better employee mental health benefits.
Nowadays, many business leaders believe that an employee’s mental health is not their concern. However, how staffers think, feel, and behave affects everything from productivity and communication to their capacity to maintain workplace safety.
Helping employees improve their mental well-being is one of the most important measures an employer can take to enhance an individual’s well-being and the firm’s overall health as well.
The cost of mental illness.
India currently has a population of around one billion people. According to a 2015 World Health Organization study, one in every five Indians, or 200 million people, may experience depression or mental illness during their lifetime. Unfortunately, only 10-12 percent of these sufferers will seek care because of the stigma associated with mental illness, a lack of understanding, and restricted access to professional help.
Absenteeism, decreased productivity, and increased healthcare costs are just a few examples of how mental health disorders cost employers money.
A healthy workplace will not avoid or lessen all mental health issues. Mental disease is caused by genetics, living experience, and past trauma.
On the other hand, employers can help workers develop mental strength to remain healthy.
So, here are several strategies business leaders can use to create a mentally healthy workplace. However, anyone might develop a mental illness. But these measures can lower the risk of mental health issues and boost mental well-being and health in the workplace.
1. Encourage a work/life balance.
Thanking employees who work late and start early, or asking them to work from home in the evenings, is counterproductive for your company’s long-term success. Without ensuring a healthy work/life balance, production will suffer, and employees will be more likely to burn out.
Encourage employees to take regular vacations to feel themself and disengage from the office atmosphere and stress. You can’t expect everyone to respond to emails 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Encourage everyone to live a full and meaningful life beyond the office. People who experience adventures, different experiences other than work, spend time with loved ones, and care for themselves make better employees.
2. Speak about mental health in the workplace.
Don’t be hesitant to share the stress, fuss, depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses. Instead, make it obvious that everyone struggles to maintain mental health.
Managers should be educated on the signs of mental illness and trained to respond appropriately. A sympathetic conversation between a supervisor and an employee may help encourage an individual to seek assistance.
3. Make screening tools available (for free)
Most mental health concerns go untreated because employees fail to recognize the signs and symptoms. Instead, they may accuse their difficulties of “stress,” or they may try to convince themselves that their concerns will go away on their own.
Employees should get the chance to anonymously examine their risk factors with free mental health screening tools. Employees aware that they are at risk for specific illnesses, such as depression or anxiety, are more likely to seek treatment.
4. Discuss EAP benefits often.
It is critical to provide an EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) benefit that allows employees to receive a limited number of free counseling sessions. However, many businesses do not spend enough time telling employees that they should use these services.
Remind your staff to use the EAP and regularly take advantage of their advantages.
EAPs can help employees deal with difficulties interfering with their performance, whether marital problems or insomnia. However, they require confirmation that it is free and confidential.
5. Make your wellness a priority.
Simple measures to enhance mental strength and promote mental well-being and health include exercise, proper food, and engagement in leisure activities.
As a result, make it a point to help people create ideal habits. Make wellbeing a high focus for your firm, whether you give rewards to employees who participate in wellness programs or complimentary gym memberships.
6. Conduct in-service events.
The administration should provide staff with in-service training for self-care, stress management, and strength.
Hiring a therapist to lead half-day sessions a few times a year could go a long way toward controlling hardships and highlighting the necessity of including good habits into your everyday routine.
This in-service training may save the organization money in the long run while also helping employees reach their full potential.
7. Assist employees in their efforts to get help.
While most employees will not hesitate to take time off to visit the dentist, many are likely to be hesitant to address their mental healthcare needs. Make it obvious that you support employees’ attempts to care for their minds in the same way you care for their bodies.
Encouraging an employee to take a mental health day or providing a flexible work schedule so an individual may attend therapy appointments are two examples. Make it plain that you will not penalize anyone for taking care of their mental health.
8. Lower the stigma.
Discussing stress management, self-care, and mental health in meetings and email contact can reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
Employees will be more willing to seek therapy if they believe you will not label them as “crazy” if they have a panic attack or fire them if they suffer from depression. Fortunately, the vast majority of mental health problems are fairly treatable.
Take it one step at a time.
It will most likely remain there sometime before we treat mental illness like we treat the physical condition. But, in the meantime, you may promote psychological wellness one small step at a time.