Mental Health – the most critical part of our wellbeing
If you meet a friend or co-worker wearing a cast, you can immediately sympathize and empathize. You notice and process the clues easily, because you recognize what you see, and understand its likely consequences. But the indication that someone has a mental health issue or as I prefer to call it, mental well-being issue can be far more difficult to identify and react to. Also, chances are, someone with such a condition is doing their best to hide it.
Mental wellbeing issues make people feel uncomfortable – people who are “suffering” from it may initially not be able to understand it and people who are interacting with them, they too may not. When you don't have any personal experience of poor mental well-being, you do not understand when all your superiors or colleagues ask you “What is wrong with you? What is bothering you?”
Social awkwardness is unfortunate, but the shame and fear it often leads to can create lasting damage. People can be extremely reluctant to reveal their struggles because of the potential impact on their careers and relationships. And so, they fight on two fronts – managing the condition on their own and trying to present a "normal" fa?ade to the rest of the world.
The isolation and sense of worthlessness that many people experience as a result of low mental well-being issues can be devastating - The 2022 WHO report reveals that even when help is available, it's not taken up. The authors said, "People will often choose to suffer mental distress without relief rather than risk the discrimination and ostracization that comes with accessing mental health services."
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Wellbeing in the Workplace
Organisations in the past have been focusing on an individual’s professional growth as a key focus area, which according to them ensures an organisation’s growth. Post Covid, I feel, it is more important to know the mental well-being of the employees, which would denote how effective they would be at their workplace.
I like to think that, as individuals, we can overcome our initial awkwardness and confusion after learning that a colleague is facing a health challenge, and that we will be supportive and accepting. After all, isn't this what we need for ourselves, whenever we're having a tough time?
But can organizations do more to help us all to succeed and thrive at work?
Managers have to balance their responsibilities when it comes to their team members and to their organization. Also, when it comes to health, these responsibilities need not conflict.
A workplace that's safe, both physically and mentally, and that enables its people to look after themselves and one another, will likely suffer less absenteeism and presenteeism. It will support more honest conversations, and engender more loyalty and trust. All of these attributes can surely only help in the long run.
Therefore, identifying and doing our best to support the mental wellbeing of our employees today is the prime consideration of several corporates across the globe.?