Employee mental health was once a taboo subject. But in recent years, a spotlight has been shining on mental health; unearthing the detrimental effect that mental health problems can have on a person. Today, organisations around the world are trying to raise awareness of mental health, including mental health in the workplace.
The Importance Of Employee Mental Health Support
For most of us, our job is a huge part of our lives. Its where we spend much of our time, and where we meet some of our closest friends. However, when someone is suffering from mental health issues, getting up and going to work every day can be daunting. The state of our mental health can have a huge impact on our work life, and vice versa.
As an employer, it is your responsibility to support your employees when they have physical or mental health issues. If your workplace has healthy, happy employees, there will be an increase in creativity and productivity and a decrease in absences and staff turnover.
Spotting The Signs
Mental health is something most people don’t feel comfortable talking openly about. So, if an employee is suffering from mental health problems, they may not tell you or anyone else. It’s difficult to help someone if you’re not aware they need help.
If an employee’s mental health is suffering, they may start to act differently at work. For example, a staff member may become less productive and less motivated to do their workload. If an employee is missing deadlines, struggling to complete simple tasks or suddenly completing work to a poor standard, this could be a sign that they aren’t feeling themselves.
Similarly, if an employee appears to be withdrawn and no longer wants to participate in work events or be a part of the work culture, this could be a sign that they are feeling down and need help.
Look out for other changes in behaviour such as turning up to work late or calling in sick repeatedly. If you notice that an employee has developed a negative attitude and is clashing with colleagues, this could mean they are struggling with something.
If you spot any of these signs, you may want to bring your employee into the office and ask them if they are struggling with anything. You employee may benefit from talking to a professional 1 to 1, or perhaps engaging in wellbeing training.
Educate Your Team About Employee Mental Health
Looking out for all your employees can be a big task, particularly if you have a high number of staff members. One of the key factors when supporting employee mental health is education.
Mental health is very often misunderstood, which is why it’s important to educate your employees about mental health issues.
Providing health and wellbeing training for your employees could help them improve their mental and physical health. It could also give them the knowledge they need to better cope with mental health issues.
If your employees better understand mental health, it is likely that they will too spot the signs if a fellow colleague is struggling. A work culture where staff members look out for each other is sure to be a happier workplace.
Encourage Communication
More often than not, employees are scared to tell their boss about their mental health issues. This causes problems to spiral. According to the Mind charity, less than 50% of people diagnosed with a mental health problem had told their manager.
To combat this, the key is to create a supportive work culture where employees feel they can open up about their problems. Teach your employees about the importance of communication. Organise team-building events and activities to encourage strong work relationships and aim to build a work culture that people want to be a part of.
Ensure that your employees are aware that they can come to you to discuss their health. Reassure staff members that they will get the support and help they need within the workplace.
Having a wellness programme is a great way to create a supportive work culture. It demonstrates that your business cares about the health and wellbeing of its staff members. Having a wellness programme also encourages staff members to put their health and wellbeing first and gives them the tools and advice they need to do so.
Supporting An Employee Who Is Experiencing Mental Health Problem
If an employee has been diagnosed with a mental health problem or is suffering from mental health issues, it is your duty as their boss to support them.
Start with having a meaningful conversation with the staff member. Listen to their needs and aim to make adjustments within the workplace to help your employee. Perhaps they could do with some time off work or would prefer flexible working hours. If the employee would prefer to carry on working, try to eliminate any work-related stress. Perhaps relocate some tasks or offer extra help.
The Wellspace app is a health and wellbeing tool, which can help your staff become more aware of their feelings. The app teaches employees how to take positive steps towards caring for their own mental and physical health.
Our training courses help too, as we offer mental resilience training that can be tailored using the data gathered on the app.
Contact Wellspace: The Corporate Wellness Experts
If you’d like to create a healthy, happy workplace that is supportive of employees with mental health issues, we can help.
Here at Wellspace, we utilise user data gathered via the wellness app to create a well-rounded corporate wellness programme that neatly dovetails into your current activities.
We would be happy to talk you through some options and help you make meaningful changes for good mental health in the workplace.
Get in touch with us by filling in our contact form, email us on info@yourwellspace.com or call 0800 178 0748.
