Discover strategies for workplace suicide prevention, including fostering social inclusion, identifying at-risk employees, and creating action plans.
Mental Health Support at the Workplace
Human Resource Professionals have always been concerned about managing mental health in the workplace. Some workers find it difficult to maintain their mental health, which has led to a decline in staff morale and decreased productivity. Additionally, more workers are battling substance usage. This raises the issue of how the HR department can assist staff members who are experiencing mental health issues.
- Promote Company-Wide Mental Health Resources
Chances are your company has mental health programs available but many employees are not aware. For example, most insurance plans offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAPs are voluntary, work-based programs that offer mental health assessments, short-term counseling opportunities, referrals to specialists, and follow-up services to employees. They serve as the first place an employee can go if they need help.
Does your company’s insurance plan cover mental health? If so, to what extent?
- Host Mental Health Support Training
As HR professionals, you are experts at understanding workplace dynamics as it relates to mental health. However, you don’t interact with your staff every day. To lessen stigma and teach them how to access the appropriate mental health resources, it is crucial that managers and staff members complete mental health training. Your department can engage an external consultant or specialist, organize internal training sessions, or enroll staff in online training courses. There are still many misconceptions around mental health. By giving employees training, you may assist them understand what the problem is and how to get help before it gets worse.
- Provide a Healthy Work/Life Balance
Long-term stress has been demonstrated to have significant negative consequences on people’s physical and mental health. An increased risk of anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance abuse, occupational accidents, and interpersonal conflict between co-workers can result from professional burnout. When experienced simultaneously, not getting enough time off from work can be particularly harmful to mental health.
It is impossible to overstate how important work-life balance is. The consequences affect not only you but also people close to you. People you engage with at work and outside of it will value the opportunity to do so when you are at your best. Your personal connections will improve as a result of the devoted concentration once work isn’t permitted to consume your free time. On the other hand, maintaining a healthy personal life helps lessen unplanned interruptions at work, increasing productivity.
Prioritize Mental Health
HR departments are the first places employees go if they need assistance. But, it’s also important to proactively communicate all modes of mental health support. Start off by reviewing your company’s health insurance coverage to ensure that mental health is covered and then begin promoting these services to your employees.
Most importantly, offer an open and friendly HR environment where employees feel safe discussing their concerns or issues.
Mental Health and Wellness at the Workplace
Yesterday (October 10th) was World Mental Health Day. The objective is to organize support for mental health and increase awareness of mental health problems throughout the world. This year’s theme is to make Mental Health and well-being for all a global priority.
Mental health and wellness revolves around our emotional, psychological and social welfare. It affects how we think, feel and behave. Positive mental health is not simply the absence of mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety but predominantly about the presence of positive characteristics such as a feeling of purpose, contentment, maintaining fulfilling relationships and participating in life to the fullest. In the workplace setting, it determines how employees cope with everyday stressors and work productively to realize goals.
It is increasingly being recognized that the mental well-being of workers is a crucial determinant in their overall well-being and that poor mental wellness at the workplace can be a contributory factor to a range of physical illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, amongst others. In addition, poor mental health can also lead to burn-out amongst employees, affects their morale adversely and seriously affects their ability to contribute meaningfully in both their personal and professional lives.
Mental health problems have an impact on employers directly through increased absenteeism, negative impact on productivity and profits, high turnover rates, as well as an increase in company costs in efforts to deal with the issue.
Work related risk factors for mental wellbeing
Most risks relate to interactions between type of work, the organizational and managerial environment, the skills and competencies of employees, and the support available for employees to carry out their work.
Risks to mental health include:
- Inadequate health and safety policies
- Poor communication and management practices
- Limited participation in decision-making or low control over one’s area of work
- Low levels of support for employees
- Inflexible working hours
- Unclear tasks or organizational objectives
- Job insecurity
Risks may also be related to job content, such as mismatch of tasks to employee’s competencies or a high and unrelenting workload. Risk may be increased in situations where there is a lack of team cohesion or social support.
Bullying and psychological harassment (also known as “mobbing”) is commonly reported as a cause of work-related stress by workers and present risks to the health of workers.
Strategies to promote mental wellness at the work place
| Employer | Employee |
| · Provide relaxation spaces to unwind during breaks | · Take part in employer-sponsored programs and activities |
| · Dispense self-assessment tools such as work – life balance questionnaires | · Nurture social connections at work to prevent social isolation and loneliness |
| · Include mental health coverage as part of workforce health care plan | · Look after their physical health |
| · Managers should aim to create a healthier company culture | · Practice self-care during breaks – for example, meditation and listening to inspirational podcasts |
| · Ensure a proper health and safety policy is in place | · Exercise coping skills during the work day – for example prioritization to avoid being overwhelmed |
Positive mental health allows employees to;
- Recognize, express and regulate emotions
- Empathize with others
- Reach their highest potential
- Flourish in their roles
- Cope with changing roles, responsibilities and challenges
Negative effects of poor mental fitness in the workplace
- Lack of engagement with one’s work
- Low productivity
- Reduced physical capability
- Misaligned communication
- Poor decision making
Conclusion
Human performance and mental well-being go hand in hand, therefore workplace wellness must be among a company’s top priority. Mental wellness is an initiative that should be a commitment of both the employer and employee in order to create a conducive work environment. A mentally stable workforce equals high productivity and longevity of an organization.