The Importance of Mental Health in The Workplace

Mental health is something that everyone has. It is the way we think, feel and also our ability to deal with ups and downs in our lives. It is just the same as physical health in that we need to keep ourselves fit and seek appropriate help as early as possible in case of any problem. Your mental health can fluctuate with changes in circumstances and as you move through different phases in your life.

Therefore, it is important that we all take the necessary steps to improve it and build resilience through self-care.

Mental health at work

For many people, work forms a large part of their lives. That adults spend roughly one-third of their lives at work is a fact. During this time, it is very likely that they experience a spectrum of mental and physical health.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people globally suffer from depression and many of these are also suffering from symptoms of anxiety. While work is considered good for mental health, a negative working environment may lead to mental and physical health problems.

WHO notes that harassment and bullying at the workplace are commonly reported causes of work-related stress that can have a substantial adverse impact on mental health.

Statistics

Although it can often be a taboo topic, especially at work, employees seem to want their employer to champion mental health and well-being. In a survey carried out on office workers in July 2018 by Peldon Rose:

• 72% of employees want employers to champion mental health and well-being.
• Nearly three-quarters of workers say they want their employers to champion mental health and well-being in the workplace. This is rated as more important than equality (48%), sustainability (38%) and diversity (31%).
• This is the case for all generations, who prioritize mental health and well-being above all other causes – Gen Z (76%), Millennials (73%), Gen X (75%), Baby Boomer (56%).

Risk factors

Many workplaces present a number of risk factors for mental health. Most of these relate to the support available for employees to work, the skills and competencies of employees, and the interactions between type of work, the organization, and the managerial environment. These risks as listed by WHO include:

• Low levels of support for employees
• Poor communication and management practices
• Inflexible working hours
• Inadequate health and safety policies
• Unclear tasks or organizational objectives
• Limited participation in decision-making or low control over one’s area of work

Warning signs

The Shaw Mind Foundation, which is a supporter of mental health in the workplace, lists some behavioral changes that may be warning signs for employers to look out for in their employees:

• Unexpected and sudden changes in mood
• A decrease in work rate, missing deadlines, and deliverables
• Inability to focus
• Anxious and fidgety behavior
• A sudden reduction in the quality of work produced
• Repetitive questions

While the above behaviors may point to someone struggling with their mental health, they can also be signs that they are dealing with other issues. Therefore, it is important to have an honest conversation with an employee with respect to their privacy boundaries to avoid wrong assumptions.

Supporting mental health at work

In lieu of this information, there are changes that organizations and businesses can implement to support mental health and well-being at work. Here are some suggestions from the foundation for employers:

• Provide support services and staff members that are trained to deal with in mental health and workplace stress. Make sure employees are aware of the availability of this support
• Enforce working hours. This can be done by limiting out-of-hours work and out-of-hours email access
• Set attainable deadlines and spread workloads equally and fairly across teams
• Promote healthy eating and regular exercise
• Where possible, avoid isolated work. If they are working from home, make sure to check in regularly

Conclusion

It is very important for organizations to ensure their employees are educated about mental health to avoid cases of mental breakdowns, reduce suicide risk and prevent burnout. Companies need to effort to invest in their employees’ mental health to establish a positive work environment where people will want to work.