6 Simple Ways You Can Start Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace
Depression, panic attacks, mood disorders, personality disorders, and eating disorders — these are just a handful of mental health issues that over three-quarters of the United States deal with by the age of 24. Among those that experience mental health disorders, only 41% seek professional help.
An average adult spends over 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. With this, employers are realizing the opportunity to help nurture positive mental health in the workplace. While proposing opportunities to seek professional help is beneficial, cultivating the right working environment is equally as important when it comes to having a healthy mindset.
There are many elements that contribute to an unhealthy state of mind in the workplace. There's bad management, long hours, unrealistic workloads, and job insecurity to name a few.
Repercussions of poor mental health cause businesses, on average, $1 trillion in lost engagement and productivity each year. On the flip side, if leaders put $1 trillion towards mental health training and resources, they could earn $4 trillion from improved productivity and health.
There is an abundance of resources that can help you in promoting mental health in the workplace. The infographic below provides 6 tips to do just that.
Provide tools and tests available to all employees
Increase mental health self-awareness by providing tools and tests that are easily accessible for all employees. These tools can relay advice on how to uphold a positive company culture, support contacts, advice on managing mental health, and recovery maintenance.
Train managers to recognize symptoms early on
Push leaders to complete mental health training to easily address symptoms of those around them. Training modules can include how to resolve conflicts, how to offer a mental health day, tips for returning to work after a mental health break, and any other helpful advice or contacts to administer support.
Offer inexpensive out of pocket health insurance
A study conducted by the National Institute of Health shows over 24.1% of individuals avoid going to the doctor due to the upfront expense. Providing proper health care insurance can alleviate the stress of having to pay for treatment.
See Also: What To Look For In A Good Health Insurance Plan
Host workshops that address techniques to treat mental health issues
Order pizza for your team and host a lunch and learn!
Instruct employees on how to properly manage stress and depression if it were to arise at work or in their personal lives. Aside from training, hosting stress relief workshops, such as a painting party, can foster a healthy company culture.
Provide counseling and coaching opportunities
Bring in trusted professionals, such as health and wellness counselors and coaches. They can assist in preventing mental health problems and resolving those that are already existing.
Organize workloads and create a supportive culture
Prioritize company need and set work boundaries. Encourage employees to schedule enough time for each project assigned, so they can manage workload stress and expectations efficiently. These things can also help in reducing employee burnout and promoting mental health in the workplace for all members of your team.
