Many business leaders assume that the mental health of their employees is none of their concern. Employees’ attitudes, feelings, and behaviors, on the other hand, have an impact on everything from productivity to communication to their ability to keep the workplace safe.
Assisting employees in improving their mental health is one of the most important measures an employer can do to improve an individual’s well-being as well as the health of the entire company.
Mental Health comes at a high price.
It’s critical for business leaders to act in a world where one in every five Americans has a diagnosable mental disorder. According to the Center for Prevention and Health, mental illness and substance misuse concerns cost companies between $79 and $105 billion each year.
Moreover, mental health difficulties cost employers money in a variety of ways, including absenteeism, lost productivity, and increased health-care costs.
Clearly, a healthy workplace will not be able to prevent or mitigate all mental health issues. In the development of mental illness, genetics, living experience, and past trauma all have a part.
Employers, on the other hand, can take steps to assist employees in developing mental strength so that they can remain as healthy as possible.
Here are a few ideas for how corporate leaders can promote mental health at workplace:
Add Life To Your Work
Having work-life balance is crucial. Especially when your work instead of making you happy drains your energy. Employees who work late and arrive early are praised, but expecting them to work from home in the evenings is detrimental to your company’s long-term success. Productivity will suffer if there isn’t a healthy work-life balance, and people will be more likely to burn out.
Employees should be required to take regular vacations where they may disconnect from the office. Don’t expect everyone to respond to emails 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Specifically, encourage everyone to live a rich and complete life outside of work. Employees who participate in hobbies, spend time with loved ones, and take care of themselves are more productive.
Talk About Mental Health With Your Colleagues
Don’t be hesitant to talk about stress, depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses. Make it obvious that staying mentally healthy is a challenge for everyone at times.
Managers should be educated on the indicators of mental illness and how to respond appropriately. In fact, a supportive interaction between a supervisor and an employee may be crucial in motivating someone to seek treatment.
Try Using Free Screening Tools
The majority of mental disorders go undiagnosed because employees are unaware of the indications and symptoms. They may dismiss their troubles as “stress” or try to persuade themselves that they will go away on their own.
Employees can anonymously examine their risk factors with Mental Health American’s free screening tools. Employees who are aware that they are at risk for certain problems, such as depression or anxiety, are more likely to seek help.
Make Mental Peace Your Priority
You should always take care of mental health by engaging yourself in activities that bring you peace. Also, do more of activities that keep you fit mentally. Simple approaches to boost mental strength and health include exercise, proper food, and engagement in leisure activities.
As a result, make it a point to assist people in developing excellent habits. Make wellness a high focus for your company. Whether you give rewards for employees who participate in wellness programs or complimentary gym memberships.
Allow Your Employees To Take A Break
While most employees are willing to take time off to visit the dentist, many are likely to be reluctant to address their mental health concerns. Make it obvious that you support employees’ efforts to care for their minds in the same manner you support their physical health.
Make it clear that you will not penalize anyone for taking care of their mental health. Whether that means letting an employee take a mental health day. Or offering a flexible work schedule so an individual can attend therapy appointments.
Minimize The Stigma Associated With Mental Illness
In meetings and email correspondence, discussing stress management, self-care, and mental health can help to minimize the stigma associated with mental illness.
Employees will be more ready to seek therapy if they believe you won’t brand them “crazy” if they have a panic attack or terminate them if they are depressed. And, thankfully, the majority of mental health issues are relatively treatable.
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