Mindful Corporate Culture: Prioritizing Mental Health and Well-being

When an athlete sprains their ankle, no one expects them to ignore it and pretend like it is nothing. They are told to take time off, rest, heal and become 100% better before they get back on track. And that sounds about right. On the contrary, have you ever seen someone extend the same courtesy to an individual struggling with mental health issues???

Around half of your workforce would have dealt with a mental issue in their lifetime and chances are they would have gone through it alone, without any support from the organization.??

Surely, mental health conditions could be tough to deal with. But it is worth noting that it could lead to a decline in physical health as well. ?

While this does emphasize the need to make mental health awareness a priority in the workplace, you need to know how to go about it.??

To establish a workplace culture with full mental health awareness, organizations must create mental health programs for employees to leverage accordingly. This can help figure out what employees seek, thus helping them choose.?

Impact of Mental Health on Workplace Productivity?

Did you know??

• 15% of working-age adults were estimated to have a mental disorder in 2019.?
• Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety at a cost of US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.?
• 82% of workers with a diagnosed mental illness do not inform their workplace managers about their condition. Some of the common reasons being fearing the negative impact on their career, being embarrassed, and even losing their job.?
• Burn-out is a more significant issue for companies than diagnosable mental health conditions . 23% of employees report feeling burnout at work very often or always, and 44% report feeling it sometimes.?

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Given the state of the world, stigma around mental health remains a huge issue and continues to be a top workplace concern. “Once we normalize mental health the way we normalize an MRI for your tweaked knee or any other medical treatment, that is when you start to see stigma come down. When you fight stigma, you can save lives” quotes Jerome Adams, one of the founders at McKinsey.??

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Why is it important to promote mental health awareness in the workplace??

Your employees are the soul of your organization. They decide the success of your business. Compromising their wellness can affect the wellbeing of the entire company. You need to be mindful of their health if you want your organization to continue its path of success. Make sure that you take care of them before it could cost you and your company.??

When you start supporting their mental health and well-being, you will be-??

• Contributing to the overall well-being of the employee. Employees with good mental health are more likely to feel satisfied at work, experience reduced stress levels and are happier.??
• Boosting productivity and performance. Mentally healthy individuals focus better, are more efficient at their tasks and deliver better results.?
• Employee engagement and motivation. An employee who is mentally healthy is more engaged, committed to work and can contribute innovative ideas. They can go that extra mile in achieving organizational goals.??
• Promoting a healthy work culture. When employers prioritize the mental health of workers, it sends a message that their well-being is valued leading to increased loyalty, job satisfaction and a sense of belonging.??
• Abiding by legal and ethical considerations. Every worker is entitled to be protected at their workplace. There are laws and regulations that mandate a safe and healthy work environment for employees, which includes addressing mental health concerns.??

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How to recognize if employees are struggling with mental health issues??

Organizations have a long way to go when it comes to being empathetic and supportive about an employee’s mental health issues. And its high time they lead the conversation around mental health wellbeing and provide what is necessary to address it effectively.??

Your employees will not knock on your door if they are struggling with mental health issues. Whatever the reason may be. It would be best if you could figure it out yourself. You do not have to invest all your time in it. But lookout for these signs-?

• Physical symptoms like tiredness?
• More prone to making errors in work?
• Fall in productivity.??
• Irritable??
• Distracted during the day, messed up working hours??
• Higher rate of absenteeism?

HRs’ take cue. Look out for these signals and start responding appropriately to address them.??

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How can you support mental health at the workplace??

Studies reveal that organizations with a prominent level of mental health awareness are more likely to be successful. And, as per research at the University of Warwick , companies addressing employee wellness are to see a growth in productivity up to 12%.?

Mental health issues can be effectively addressed at the workplace by focusing on three important factors- Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention (PPEI). There are some effective strategies and steps you can undertake to support your efforts in promoting mental health awareness in the workplace. They are-???

Start the conversation -

The attitude towards mental health is certainly changing. But there is still a lot that needs to change. Survey suggests that 40% of men struggle to talk about their mental health. Over 50% of employees feel they need to put up a brave face in the workplace.??

To tackle this-??

• Create an open and non-judgmental atmosphere where employees feel comfortable discussing mental health with each other as well as their higher authorities.??
• Encourage leaders and managers to lead by example by discussing their own experiences and challenges.?
• Implement a zero-tolerance policy for stigma and discrimination related to mental health.?

Promote Awareness:

• Conduct workshops and training sessions to increase awareness about mental health.?
• Provide information about common mental health issues, their signs, and how to seek help.?
• Share resources, articles, and videos to educate employees about mental well-being.?

Provide Access to Resources:

• Offer access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that provide confidential counselling services.?
• Partner with mental health organizations or professionals for additional support.?
• Share contact information for helplines and crisis intervention services.?

Flexible Work Arrangements:?

• Allow flexible work hours or remote work options to help employees manage their work-life balance.?
• Provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with mental health conditions, as required by law.?

Encourage Breaks and Self-Care:?

• Promote regular breaks and discourage overworking.?
• Create designated spaces where employees can relax and recharge during the workday.?
• Advocate for self-care practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and stress-relief techniques.?

Check-in with employees often:?

• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings between managers and employees.??
• Give them opportunity to discuss workload, challenges, and well-being.?
• Use these check-ins as opportunities to offer support and resources.?

Workload Management:?

Do not overload employees with work they cannot handle. It is one of the main reasons for the decline of mental health at work.??

• Ensure that workloads are reasonable and manageable to prevent excessive stress.?
• Provide clear expectations and prioritize tasks to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed.?

Promote Physical Well-being:?

• Encourage regular physical activity by providing gym memberships or organizing fitness challenges.?
• Encourage them to take a walk. Even a 10-minute walk can be surprisingly refreshing.??
• Offer healthy snacks and drinks in the workplace.?
• Provide ergonomic workstations to support physical comfort.?

Recognize and Appreciate:?

Not appreciating your employees for the effort, they put is also a factor that can affect their mental health.??

• Acknowledge and appreciate employees' efforts and accomplishments.?
• Regularly recognize and celebrate milestones to boost morale and a sense of belonging.?

Offer Training for Managers:?

Managers need to be mindful of what their employees can handle and what they cannot. They are the ones who work in close quarters with employees. So, they need to know what their employees are going through.??

Train managers to recognize signs of mental distress and respond appropriately.?

• Provide guidance on how to support employees who may be experiencing mental health challenges.?

Stress-Reduction Initiatives:?

• Organize stress-relief activities such as yoga classes, meditation sessions, or art therapy workshops.?
• Create a designated "quiet room" where employees can take short breaks for relaxation.?

Feedback Mechanisms:?

• Establish anonymous feedback channels to allow employees to express concerns or suggestions without fear of reprisal.?

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Act on it.??

It is obligatory for company leaders to drive awareness and action on mental health. By creating an environment where employees can openly talk about their mental health issues, leaders can destigmatize mental illness in the workplace and send a sign that people are entitled to have access and support from the company. ?