{"id":8440,"date":"2024-07-10T12:14:39","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T12:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.valuwit.com\/?p=8440"},"modified":"2024-07-10T12:26:35","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T12:26:35","slug":"mental-health-initiatives-in-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.valuwit.com\/en\/mental-health-initiatives-in-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Mental Health Initiatives for a Better Work Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"
Employee mental health is about your bottom line more than it is about their well-being. Studies show a direct link between poor mental health, increased absenteeism, and decreased productivity. This translates into a loss of working hours, increase in errors, and lack of initiatives.<\/span><\/p>\n Fair or poor mental health results in an average of <\/span>12 days of unplanned absence<\/span><\/a> per year, compared to 2.5 days for other employees, according to a study of over 15,800 participants by global research firm Gallup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Similarly, another six-month study by MindShare, a workplace mental-health consultancy, found that <\/span>35% of full-time employees<\/span><\/a> report mental health stress \u201cimpacts their ability to do their work.\u201d Stress about physical health, job security, and social issues came in second, third, and fourth with 30%, 25%, and 17%, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the core triggers of such statistics tends to be <\/span>poor management style<\/span><\/a>. People working in companies with bad managers, or overall bad management, are considered to be \u201cactively disengaged,\u201d based on a report by Gallup titled The State of Global Workplace 2024. They are 60% more likely to be stressed than their counterparts who are working under good managers and in healthier work cultures.<\/span><\/p>\n Senior executives aren\u2019t immune from burnout or elevated stress, the same study reported that <\/span>25% of leaders <\/span><\/a>said they \u201coften or always\u201d feel burned out, while around 66% said they \u201cat least sometimes\u201d feel so.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite its clear effect on businesses, managers and business owners struggle to address mental health in the workplace or offer mental well-being initiatives. What is adding to the complexity of the issue is how discussions of the topic can be viewed as a sign of weakness or an attack on the person\u2019s capabilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Globally, over the past decade, mental well-being has been steadily worsening, according to the United Nations Development Programme\u2019s <\/span>2023\/2024 Human Development Report<\/span><\/a>. The report which includes data from 159 countries explained that \u201cthe number of people expressing stress, sadness, anxiety, anger or worry has been on the rise,\u201d reaching its highest levels since the survey began.<\/span><\/p>\n Further reading: <\/b>Is Email Overload Hurting Your Bottom Line?<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The majority of companies are adopting mental health initiatives in the workplace. However, not all initiatives are effective, with some even having an adverse impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The key ingredient remains to be the need to address the core issues causing burnout, elevated stress, and anxiety on an organizational level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The below are several initiatives with a proven track record.<\/span><\/p>\n The first step in addressing mental health in the workplace is to raise awareness of what mental health is, what poor mental health looks like, and how it affects other team members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Raising awareness can be in the form of group sessions, online, or in-person sessions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Given the statistics, it\u2019s no surprise that C-Suits are among the first to struggle with poor mental health. Their plates are overflowing with never-ending tasks, responsibilities, and fires to put out.<\/span><\/p>\n Prioritizing their training about how to handle their well-being, spot issues early on in their team, and learn how to support their team can have a significant effect on overall stress levels.<\/span><\/p>\n Everyone strives for work-life balance, but few achieve it. Giving employees the opportunity to work from home a few days a week can reduce the stresses of a daily commute and give them more freedom to spend time with their families and maintain their mental and physical well-being.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Work-from-home, as well as <\/span>hybrid work<\/span><\/a>, build trust between employees and their managers, contributing to a healthier work experience.<\/span><\/p>\n Mandate mental health support for the entire team. This can come in many forms, from providing access to mental health professionals or physicians, to materials like books and brochures, to offering mental health days.<\/span><\/p>\n Providing workplace mental health programs helps team members understand the different aspects of mental health and their impact on their lives and those of others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Training and assessments can only go so far, but fostering an environment where this topic is a staple in internal communication, team building activity, and even in a periodical appraisal will change the stigma around it.<\/span><\/p>\n This in parallel with periodical training and awareness sessions can have a significant impact on the overall <\/span>workplace culture<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Further reading: <\/b>5 Ways to Retain Employees During Mergers and Acquisitions<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n An <\/span>employee rewards and recognition program<\/span><\/a> acts as a source of motivation for employees. It helps managers acknowledge their team members\u2019 efforts, while also rewarding employees for their hard work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A recognition program is about focusing on employees\u2019 positive performance and efforts. This can help employees feel motivated and rewarded, prompting them to continue working for an organization.<\/span><\/p>\n Mental well-being and physical health directly affect each other. People with poor physical health can struggle with negative mental well-being and vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\n Offering physical activity programs, such as gym memberships or group activities for team members, can be an opportunity to boost employee engagement and improve mental health in the workplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Volunteering can often give a sense of happiness. Research shows volunteering, not just donating, can <\/span>have a positive impact on mental wellbeing<\/span><\/a>. This was seen across multiple age groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhy mental health matters in the workplace<\/b><\/h2>\n
Eight mental health initiatives to adopt<\/b><\/h2>\n
1- Raising awareness about mental health\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
2- Mental health training for managers\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
3- Supporting flexible work\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
4- Mental health support\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
5- Open and continuous dialogue on mental health<\/b><\/h3>\n
6- Create a recognition program\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
7- Offer physical activity programs\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
8- Launch volunteering initiatives<\/b><\/h3>\n
Three examples of companies championing workplace mental health<\/b><\/h2>\n