Mental Health: Workplace Action

In the UK, 1 in 6 people experience mental health problems in the workplace.

Mental health awareness is truly critical to the success of teams for several reasons.

1. Mental health problems are common in the workplace. In the UK, for example, one in six workers is dealing with a mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, or stress. This means that there is a strong likelihood that someone on your team is struggling with a mental health issue (one, at least).
2. Mental health problems can have a significant impact on work performance. Studies have shown that employees who are dealing with mental health issues are more likely to experience absenteeism, presenteeism (when employees come to work but are not productive), and turnover. This can lead to decreased productivity, lower quality of work, higher stress levels for the rest of the team and increased business costs; in fact, mental health issues are estimated to cost businesses ￡bns each year in lost productivity.
3. Mental Health Awareness is an opportunity to show your employees that you are committed to their well-being. Too often, Mental Health Awareness is seen as an activity that companies give lip service to without recognising the importance of Mental Health and actually doing anything to support their employees. Right now, take the opportunity to do more than just talk about Mental Health: create a plan to support your employees long-term.

Mental health is often viewed as a taboo topic, and as a result, it is often left unaddressed.

This can have a negative impact on both the individual and the team as a whole. When people cannot openly discuss their mental health, it can lead to feelings of isolation and frustration. Furthermore, mental health issues can also affect productivity and motivation levels. Therefore, it is essential that teams are aware of the importance of mental health and create an environment where people feel comfortable discussing their mental health openly. Mental health should not be a taboo topic; we can all help break the stigma by having open conversations about it.

Mental health awareness is something that is given lip service and not prioritised in the workplace. Mental health problems can have a major impact on productivity and morale, so it is essential that companies do more to support their employees. Companies can create happier, more productive teams by creating an environment where mental health is openly discussed and employees feel supported.

While it is important to respect everyone's privacy, ignoring mental health can negatively impact the team environment. Acknowledging mental health is as real as recognising a colleague with a broken leg, and by creating a workplace culture that supports open discussion about Mental Health, we create an environment and atmosphere in which people want to be... and we all thrive! Let's break the taboo and remove the perpetuated stigma around Mental Health that prevents people from getting the help they need.

Start (today) having more honest conversations about mental health in the workplace. Only then can we hope to create happy, prosperous teams where everyone can reach their full potential.

So what can businesses do?

When addressing mental health in a business or workplace, don't outsource the issue to a third-party company to provide services, such as talking therapy, in isolation. This type of access plays a part and is useful, but implementing heartfelt holistic initiatives that will genuinely support employee wellbeing must be the priority. It’s vital that the concept of culture within a business is looked at simultaneously. We spend much time with our colleagues and teams, working hard for a common goal. And there will never be an adequate substitute for having a compassionate and empathetic manager or colleague. Many companies have organised virtual social events and regular check-ins to help people stay connected and close to teammates. Given the current proliferation of home-working, this can sometimes feel forced or contrived; making these activities fun and upbeat is important. Whatever mechanisms and initiatives are enacted, this support network needs to be formalised, accessible and communicated with clarity to the entire workforce. This means embedding it into HR strategies to ensure that no one falls through the net.

Final thought...

Creating supportive, welcoming company environments is the first step towards a well-rounded employee support strategy. Investing in resources, processes, and technology to support staff complements this, and does not fulfil the entire responsibility of the organisation. Leadership in this area cannot be abdicated!

We often do not share all the same skills and perspectives. A diverse team makes work fun and interesting and enables us to achieve what we want and need. But, it does mean that each employee/team member will have different concerns and needs. There is no one-size-fits-all, silver bullet!

A comprehensive education and support programme is vital for making your team feel and realise that their well-being is sincerely important to the organisation. This leads to healthier, more productive and successful relationships that endure long into the future.