Employers need to be knowledgeable about ways to enhance mental health in the workplace since there is evidence to suggest that mental health issues are on the rise. On the spectrum of mental wellness, every employee falls somewhere between just surviving and flourishing. Their location on this continuum is expected to change. The mental health of our experts is now under a great deal of stress, according to our employee wellbeing data. Sixty per cent of employees are anxious, 56 per cent are depressed, and 76 per cent are under moderate to high stress, according to the Workplace Health Report.
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To promote better mental wellness among employees, here are a few suggestions:
1. Take care of yourself:
It is essential to prioritize self-care to properly care for our colleagues. According to the oxygen mask analogy, putting one’s oxygen mask on first is a very altruistic act. Constantly assisting other people may cause weariness and burnout, which can impact mental health. Twenty minutes a day may be dedicated to self-care, whether that’s reading, exercising, or just sitting still.
2. Take the lead:
To promote mental health and wellness, it is essential to have employees in top positions. Leaders who aren’t afraid to talk about their struggles with mental health may help others around them. Even in the face of adversity, leaders have the power to alleviate stress by establishing psychologically safe zones where people feel comfortable talking about their feelings.
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3. Listen carefully and follow your gut:
It might be particularly difficult to notice the warning symptoms of a co-worker’s mental health crisis when you work remotely. Pay attention to changes in behaviour, including becoming more or less irritable or silent. If anything seems odd, start talking about it. When you proactively help your co-workers, they will be more likely to come to you when they are having trouble. Throughout the discussion, show understanding and compassion.
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4. Get people talking about mental health:
There is a lot of shame associated with mental health difficulties, thus workers are afraid to talk to their bosses about them. One way to address this is by promoting open dialogue, using internal communication channels, and including mental health training in orientations.
5. Don’t let the discussion end:
Encouraging workers to talk about their mental health is important since it’s always a problem. It is helpful to check in with staff and ask twice, in addition to having regular one-on-one meetings. If you inquire again, you could find out anything is wrong, even if 75% of individuals are OK. This prompts contemplation on the emotional and psychological wellness of co-workers.
6. Take note of resources that may provide more assistance:
When it comes to matters of mental health and welfare, leaders should know their limits and think about seeking out additional resources as needed. They should be familiar with the EAPs and wellness programs offered by their employer and be able to recommend outside resources, such as hotlines and how-to manuals, for employees who need them. When crafting their mental health policies, businesses should think about organizations that assist, such as charities and hotlines.
7. Work-life balance should be a top priority:
A lack of a healthy work-life balance may cause stress and burnout, and the borders between home life and one’s job are getting more and more blurry. Prompt employees to keep acceptable hours, take complete lunch breaks, and stay away on weekends so they may have a good work-life balance. The SMART goals framework may be used to guide the needs of work.
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8. Establish standards for a psychologically healthy work environment:
If you want your team’s mental health to improve, you should institute healthy workplace practices. Prompt frequent changes in activity, social engagements, and lengthy periods of sitting. The staff’s health and general well-being are prioritized in this way.
9. Make privacy and secrecy a top priority:
The need to maintain confidentiality in mental health was emphasized in Mind’s 2021 report. Employees with mental health concerns sometimes avoid talking about it for fear that their talks would be recorded and used against them professionally. Assuring employees that their privacy is protected and that their resources will never be misused is of the utmost importance.
10. Strategies to promote emotional well-being at work:
Finally, before we close off our advice on improving mental health in the workplace, there are a few things to keep in mind. Emphasizing mental health goes beyond just preventing negative consequences; it also means providing your workers with the chance to reach their full potential. When you talk about the importance of mental health and wellness in the workplace, it’s important to let workers know that it’s about more than just lowering stress levels and preventing burnout. Achieving success in one’s professional and personal life is also important.
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