In the contemporary workplace, nurturing employee mental health cannot be overstated. Employers who recognise the significance of fostering a supportive environment reap numerous benefits: a contented and resilient workforce, increased productivity, and reduced turnover.Â
Explore the following six strategies for improving mental health in the workplace:
1) Talk About It
Creating a culture of open dialogue around mental health is a necessity. Encouraging employees to share their experiences, struggles and concerns fosters an environment of acceptance and understanding. By breaking the stigma associated with mental health discussions, this will dismantle the invisible barriers that have long kept these conversations hidden.
Identify Issues and Remove Taboos
Identify sources of stress and let your employees know it’s acceptable to acknowledge these challenges. Remove the taboo around discussing work-related stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. By doing so, you create a more empathetic and compassionate workplace.
Encourage Breaks
Encourage your employees to take regular breaks. Short walks, stretching, healthy snacks, and time away from their desks and screens can help them recharge. Implement regular check-in calls and hose social activities such as team wellness challenges to boost morale.
2) Encourage Physical and Emotional Health
Management Participation
Leadership involvement is a cornerstone of establishing a positive and healthy workplace environment. The actions and attitudes of leaders significantly influence the company culture. When leaders actively participate in wellness initiatives, they not only set a positive example for their employees but also demonstrate their commitment to the wellbeing of the team. By taking part, leaders show that they value the physical and mental health of their team members.
Wellness Program
Implementing a range of wellness programs is a strategic move that can yield numerous benefits for both employees and the organisation as a whole. Workplace health challenges, such as step-count competitions of healthy eating challenges, provides employees with fun and engaging ways to improve their health and wellbeing. Incentive programs can further motivate employees to participate and reach their wellness goals. By offering rewards or recognition for achieving certain milestones, employees are encouraged to take their wellbeing seriously.
3) Provide Mental Wellness Resources
Educational Programming
Educational programming within the workplace is a vital tool for enhancing employee wellbeing. By offering programs that integrate education with personalised activities, organisations can foster a supportive and growth-oriented environment. For instance, workshops on stress management, time management and resilience can equip employees with the tools needed to navigate challenges effectively. These programs can help individuals feel valued and supported by their employer, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and a more positive work culture.
Find out more about our Workplace Wellness ProgramsÂ
Wellness Checkpoints
Establishing regular wellness checkpoints is a proactive approach to ensuring employee wellbeing remains a priority. These checkpoints can include schedule one-on-one meetings between employees and their supervisors, where individuals can openly discuss their wellbeing, workload, and any emerging concerns. By routinely assessing employee wellness, organisations can identify and address issues in their early stages, preventing them from escalating into more significant problems. By doing this, it is signalled that employee’s mental and emotional health is valued and supported by the company, contributing to a positive work environment.
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4) Provide an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
EAP Counselling and Support
EAP provide a wide range of invaluable services, including counselling and support tailored to combat prevalent issues like chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. By addressing these challenges head-on, EAPs not only bolster the emotional and psychological health of employees but also enhance overall workplace performance and morale, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more productive corporate environment.
5) Create a Healthy Work Environment
The work environment significantly impacts employee mental wellness, productivity, job turnover, and profits. Employers can influence this by maintaining an open-door policy, keeping employees informed of developments, and providing flexibility options like hybrid work arrangements.
6) Show You Care
Employee Engagement
Encourage a sense of community and connection by organising community service days, family activities, and recognise outstanding employer-employee cooperation. Promote employee voices and management in community meetings and activities, allowing them to have a say in the decision-making process that affect them directly. This not only strengthens the bond between management and employees but also cultivates a sense of belonging and shared responsibility within the organisation.Â
Additional Insights
Be Vulnerable
As a leader, being honest about your own mental struggles can open the door for employees to feel comfortable discussing their mental health challenges. Authentic leadership builds trust and improves employee engagement and performance.
Model Health Behaviours
Model self-care and boundaries to show your team members that it is okay to prioritize their wellbeing.
Build a Culture of Connection
Regular check-ins, where you actively listen and encourage questions and concerns, are crucial for fostering a culture of connection. Be compassionate and supportive to those who open up about their struggles.
Improving mental health in the workplace is crucial. Implementing these strategies will not only benefit your employees but also your organisation as a whole. Prioritizing mental health fosters a positive work environment, reduces absenteeism, enhances productivity, and ultimately, contributes to the long-term success of your business. By creating a culture that supports mental health, you are investing in your employees and the future of your company.
Resources
The best way to fight stigma is through education and the more we know about the prevalence of mental health issues, the faster we can treat them. Getting involved in your workplace’s corporate health programs is a great way to fight stigma in the workplace. If your workplace doesn’t have a corporate health program, speak to your employer about putting one in place
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Find out more about our Workplace Wellness ProgramsÂ
Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Â