Wellness Wednesday--Caring for Mental Health in the Workplace

Mental health support...It's what is missing in our workplace cultures.

Many wellness programs incorporate education and resources for our physical and social health, but fail to give the same attention to mental health. Caring about and for mental health goes beyond acknowledging its importance, though that is a great first step. It's mostly free, and comes in the form of heartfelt compassion and intentional culture redesign. PLEASE take the time to read the linked article. Here are a few nuggets from the article. Eat the snack, then click on the link below for the full meal.

"While there is no one solution to this problem, there are several steps we can take, both as organizations and as individuals, to make work a place of humanity and compassion where individuals can bring and accept their full selves, mental health challenges and all. With trust at the center of employer-employee relationships, wellness programs can transform from shiny lacquer into authentic elements of an integrated, human system.

“Talking the talk” without “walking the walk” is a likely byproduct of ignorance, even for those with the best intentions. Ignorance not only perpetuates a broader societal stigma about mental health, it also creates a culture in which leaders and employees feel ill-equipped to support, and even identify, emotional distress.

Call to Action:

Organizations, invest in mental health education and develop inclusive workplace policies. Focus on the following:

• Mental Health Education
• Flexible Workplace Policies
• Leaders, show compassion
• Employees, be emotionally available

Click on the article to learn HOW you can make your company culture truly reflective of what we all want and need:  Compassion for being human.

https://hbr.org/2019/08/what-wellness-programs-dont-do-for-workers