Managing mental health in the workplace

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well, work well and contribute to their community.

If you've ever experienced mental health issues, you'll know how difficult it can be to juggle it with pressuring work loads.

As part of mental health awareness day (10/10), let's talk mental health in the workplace.

Poor mental health costs employers between £33 billion-£42 billion a year. Supporting mental health in the workplace has never been more important, especially with negative effects from the covid-19 pandemic still very much with us. According to studies completed, mental ill health accounts for over 20 percent of sickness absence in the workplace, with 9 out of 10 people who experience mental health problems say they face stigma and discrimination as a result of this. 

Existing resources readily available include:

• Mental Health at Work - They have a toolkit with advice and resources, especially for small businesses.
• Mind - The mental health charity Mind have developed the Mental Health at work website, which holds over 400 resources to help inform and advise employers on managing mental health in the workplace

Understand The Risk Factors To Mental Health

Personal and environmental circumstances can both contribute to how a staff member is feeling. It is often impossible to change external circumstances however, workplaces can often help ease burden through establishing workplace risk factors and providing supportive practices and procedures. Risk factors for unhappy work life include:

• Unclear job roles or organisational objectives.
• Inflexible working hours.
• Poor communication and management practices.
• Lack of support for staff.
• Limited decision-making power.

Support your staff

Staff should have regular well-being conversations with their managers, this also gives them an opportunity to air any grievances within their role. Managers should also have the right skills available to support their staff and respond in a compassionate manor. Leaders have an important role in reinforcing positive attitudes, modelling positive behaviours and shifting mindsets.

• Educate staff on the importance of good mental health
• Beat the stigma around mental health
• Raise awareness
• Encourage open conversations
• Raise staff morale in the workplace

Ultimately, mental health is an often, unpredictable roller coaster which at times can be down more than it is up. Ensuring staff have access to adequate initiatives such as peer support groups, stress management exercises, sleep and healthy eating advice and flexible/agile working could help reduce the hours you lose in staff.

Ultimately, be kind always.