Reaping the rewards of a mentally healthy workplace.

“Despite mental disorders being the leading cause of sickness absence and work incapacity in most developed countries, mental health has been relatively ignored in the majority of workplace health programmes”. Tan et al. 2014

 It would seem that whilst there is a growing awareness in the workplace and in the public arena over the past decade with regards to the importance of attending to the mental health of employees, there is still a very strong stigma attached to mental health issues. Unfortunately, due to this lack of understanding, empathy and skill in how to deal with these issue at work, there is very little support for those employees who do suffer from either an anxiety disorder or who may be going through a depressive episode.

Even with the great work being done by organisations such as The Black Dog Institute and Beyond Blue to raise awareness, there would still seem to be a need for much greater executive and management support for those who are quietly suffering and who are too scared to say anything to their team leader, manager or even fellow work colleagues.

Campaigns such as R U OK? Day, whilst well intentioned, do not have the effect necessary to actually make a difference in terms of people feeling able to approach their manager or team leader to disclose their difficulty with anxiety or depression. This may be due to the fear of repercussions such as a stalled career (lack of promotional opportunities) through to the fear of being terminated. This difficulty is not limited to any particular industry, any particular type of organisation, be it government or private, profit or not for profit, blue collar or white collar. It is so much easier for a worker to come into work with a bandaged arm and get empathy and support than it is to come into work struggling with anxiety or depression. Maybe a bandage around the head would help?

More and more research is now showing how organisations who invest in the mental health of their employees through effective training, awareness campaigns, and employee assistance programmes are reaping the benefits not only of being seen as  progressive and great places to work but are also receiving a return on their investment of $2.40 for every $1.00 spent (PwC Report, 2014).

Organisations that include unique support for employees such as the creation of a stay at work plan rather than a return to work plan is anecdotal proof that the organisation and employee both benefit from a well considered approach to mental health in the workplace. Another recent study conducted by BioMedCentral’s researchers in 2014, looking at a meta-analysis of universal mental health interventions in the workplace have shown a statistically significant impact on reducing the symptoms of depression in employees, with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) being the most statistically significant therapy and practice.

Workplace Mental Health Training programmes can assist both employees and management alike in learning how to broach this difficult subject. Training should include a deeper understanding for employees and managers on what the different anxiety disorders are (including signs and symptoms) as well as the experience and recovery process of depression. Management should learn how to ensure that a worker feels supported and that work remains a key part in the recovery and healing process.

Creating a Stay at Work Plan could be the most valuable and useful service an organisation can offer to an employee who is struggling with anxiety or depression as well as providing additional support such as access to an Employee Assistance Programme. A Stay at Work Plan might include tailored adjustments to the workload and/or work hours of the employee for a designated period of time (just as would be the case for any physical injury). This will ensure that the organisation retains good employees who may just need a little extra care and support during a difficult period in their lives.

 The increase in motivation and commitment towards the organisation that the employee would feel after such a process would be immeasurable not only from the point of view of the individual employee who has benefited greatly from this support but also in terms of the rest of the team and organisation who have now seen their employer put their money where their mouth is with regards to their values of caring for their people and their people being their number one asset.

Fox Psychology is now offering a comprehensive one day Mental Health @ Work Training for staff, managers and team leaders. 

For more information on the training please contact me via LinkedIn or email me at [email protected]