Mentally strong workplaces
How to promote health, well-being and productivity in the office
any business leaders assume an employee’s mental health is none of their business. But the way employees think, feel and behave impacts everything from productivity and communication to their ability to maintain safety in the workplace.
Helping employees improve their mental health could be one of the most important steps an employer can take to improve an individual’s well-being, as well as the health of the organization.
In a world where one in five Americans has a diagnosable mental illness, it’s important for business leaders to take action. Mental illness and substance abuse issues cost employers between $79 billion and $105 billion each year, according to the Center for Prevention and Health.
Absenteeism, reduced productivity and increased health care costs are just a few of the ways mental health issues cost employers money.
Clearly, a healthy workplace won’t prevent or reduce all mental health problems. Genetics, life experience and past trauma all play a role in the development of mental illness. But employers can take steps to help employees build mental strength so they can stay as healthy as possible.
1. Promote a work/life balance
Praising employees who work late and arrive early, or expecting them to work from home in the evenings, hurts your company in the long run. Without a healthy work/life balance, productivity is likely to decline, and employees are more likely to burn out.
Insist that employees take regular vacations where they are able to unplug from the office. Don’t expect staff members to answer emails around the clock.
Encourage everyone to develop a rich, full life outside of the office. People who engage in hobbies, spend time with loved ones and take time to care for themselves make better employees.
2. Discuss mental health in the workplace
Don’t be afraid to bring up issues related to stress, depression, anxiety or other mental illness. Make it clear that everyone struggles to stay mentally healthy sometimes.
Educate managers about the signs of mental health problems and train them to respond appropriately. A caring conversation between a supervisor and an employee could be instrumental in encouraging someone to get help.
3. Offer free screening tools
Most mental health issues are left untreated because employees don’t recognize the signs and symptoms. They may pass off the issues as stress or they may try to convince themselves that their problems will go away.
Mental Health American offers free screening tools that can help employees anonymously assess their risk factors. Employees who recognize they’re at risk for depression or anxiety are more likely to seek treatment.
4. Talk often about EAP benefits
Offering an employee assistance program benefit that allows staff members to access therapy sessions for free is important. But many companies don’t spend enough time reminding employees that they should take advantage of these services.
Remind your employees to use the EAP. Whether an employee is experiencing marital issues or insomnia, EAPs can help employees deal with the issues that detract from their performance. They also need reassurance that it’s free and confidential.
5. Make wellness a priority
Exercise, nutrition and leisure activities are a few simple ways to build mental strength and improve health.
Whether you offer incentives to employees who participate in wellness programs or you offer free gym memberships, make wellness a top priority for your organization.
6. Provide in-service events
Provide employees with in-service training on self-care, stress management and resilience.
Hiring a therapist to provide half-day workshops a few times a year could go a long way toward preventing problems and emphasizing the importance of building healthy strategies into your daily life. This in-service training could save the company money in the longterm while also helping employees reach their greatest potential.
7. Support employees’ efforts to get help
While most employees don’t hesitate to take time off to go to the dentist, many of them are likely to be shy about addressing their mental health needs. Make it clear you support employees’ efforts to take care of their minds in the same way you want them to take care of their bodies.
Make it clear you won’t penalize anyone for taking a mental health day or having a flexible work schedule to allow for therapy appointments.
8. Reduce the stigma
Talking about stress management, self-care and mental health in meetings and in email communications can reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
When employees trust you won’t call them crazy for having a panic attack or fire them when they’re struggling with depression, they’ll be more willing to seek treatment.
These small steps can get your staff well on the way to good mental health.
Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, a lecturer at Northeastern University and a mental strength trainer. Her books, “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do” and “13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do,” have been translated into more than 30 languages.