How to Support Your Employees’ Mental Health
January 10, 2022 | 
Employee HealthMental health
Mental health is a very important topic to bring up, especially in today’s society. New research claims that mental health problems could affect more than 350 million people globally, and one of the biggest contributors to this epidemic is workplace stress such as:
- bullying or discrimination,
- job insecurity,
- gender bias as well as,
- oppressive work schedules, and
- poor work-life balance.
To help your employees achieve great mental health at work, you need to create a culture of collaboration, mutual understanding, and respect within your organization. You can also help promote mental health by providing services that your employees can freely use and seek support from.
4 Ways To Help Your Team in the Office
1. Show Your Vulnerability
As mentioned before, stress can have a huge impact on one’s overall mental health. By being open and honest about how you’re feeling, not just with yourself, but with everyone else in your work environment, you’ll be able to reach out for help if you need it and give others the courage to do the same. This will also allow others to be more understanding of their own emotions and needs as well, and promote an environment where people value introspection and deep thinking.
2. Develop a Culture of Inclusivity in the Workplace
Everyone deserves to feel like they belong at work! It’s important that there is a sense of community within the company and that people are encouraged to share their thoughts openly without fear of judgment or backlash. When people feel connected to the company, they are less likely to experience anxiety at work because they know their voices matter. A great way to start developing this sense of community is by holding regular team-building activities such as team lunches or a dinner event once a month for the whole office!
3. Promote and Model Healthy Habits as a Leader
To promote mental health at work, employees must have access to healthy food options during the day and time off after they get home from work so they can decompress and relax from their long days. In addition, employees must be encouraged by senior staff to develop healthy habits – engaging with the habits yourself and modeling them to your staff is likely to convince them to try it themselves. Actions speak louder than words after all.
4. Be Flexible With Your Office Staff
Whether it’s pushing for flexi-time or reinforcing the ‘work stays in the office’ policy, it’s important to remember that your staff are people, not machines, and will benefit from an environment that adapts to them, rather than the other way around. Showing your staff that you’re willing to compromise will alleviate stress when unforeseen circumstances arise, not only making staff feel more content at work but also making them more inclined to help out when the need comes. Everyone benefits from flexibility and understanding.
Services and Resources You Should Offer in the Workplace
Employers need to offer the resources necessary for their employees to take care of their mental health. That way, your company will likely avoid consequences like decreased productivity and high employee turnover rates.
A few ways you could enhance your mental health services are by having team-building events, providing access to a counselor or psychologist, or offering online therapy.
You could also provide chaplain services to give employees emotional and spiritual support when they are struggling mentally, as many rely on their faith to get through times of hardship. Chaplaincy services can accommodate many cultures and lifestyles, so it’s important to consider the diversity of your workplace to ensure that everyone is fairly represented and offered the same level of emotional support.
Still not convinced? Here are some other benefits of offering these services:
– It can improve the overall well-being of your employees and make them feel supported.
– It gives employees the tools they need to better deal with stressors at work.
– It can encourage employees who have been struggling to get back on track by providing them with more motivation during difficult periods.
If you’re still unsure about how you can best support your employees’ needs, there are plenty of professionals you can contact to find out further information about not only services you can enlist the help of, but also mental health in general. Being well informed is the first step to making real change, so do your homework and you’ll be well equipped to ensure your staff is mentally cared for and in tip-top shape to work at their best.
