Today, most of us often navigate the busy highways of deadlines, meetings, and expectations, putting our mental well-being at stake. Whether it’s hybrid working, which has blurred personal or professional boundaries, ongoing layoffs or the economic downturn, the past few uncertain years have led to increased stress, anxiety and depression among employees .
Workplace Mental health has always been a sensitive but overlooked topic, given the rapidly changing competitive environment in which employees often feel overwhelmed and stressed by the pressure to perform, meet deadlines and succeed.
THE World Health Organization highlighted earlier that more than half of the world’s population is currently at work and 15% of working age adults live with a mental disorder, resulting in a loss of twelve billion working days. On another side, organizations that invest in mental wellness initiatives see their employees report better job performanceas suggested by Gallup.
With recent attention from leading organizations, governments and businesses, mental health is taking on great importance and prioritizing it is no longer a compassionate choice. It’s a strategic business imperative. So, many leaders today are prioritizing the mental well-being of their employees more than ever and are taking proactive steps to create a supportive and inclusive work culture that encourages open dialogue about mental health issues and provides access to resources.
So while we celebrate World Mental Health Day today, under the theme ‘mental health is a universal human right,’ this day, every year on October 10, reminds us of the importance of mental health, raising awareness and mobilizing efforts for better mental health in order to bring about positive change, because almost one in five people people experience mental health problems at some point in their lives.
Mental wellness is undeniably a universal human right, even in the workplace. Every individual has the right to a work environment that promotes psychological well-being, recognizes the importance of mental health, and provides support and resources when needed. There is no doubt that psychological factors associated with work can harm mental health. Therefore, recognizing and defending this right to work is not only an ethical imperative, but also essential to fostering a productive and compassionate work culture.
It is a commitment to ensuring that employees can thrive not only professionally but also mentally, contributing to a healthier, happier and more equitable workforce. Today, on World Mental Health Day, organizations can raise awareness and support the mental health of their employees. Read on to learn how leaders can harness the power of this day to improve mental health and well-being in the workplace and promote it as a universal workplace right.
1. Reduce stigma by encouraging open dialogue:
To improve employee mental well-being, it is essential to normalize conversations about mental health and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health issues in the workplace. By recognizing and openly discussing work-related stress and mental health issues, leaders can initiate meaningful progress. This change in attitude helps employees understand that they are not alone in their struggles.
2. Establish an employee assistance program:
Employee assistance programs (EAPs) can provide employees with confidential counseling and support for a range of personal and work-related issues. EAPs can be a valuable resource for employees experiencing mental health issues.
3. Establish clear guidelines:
To cultivate a safe and healthy workplace, begin developing, implementing and enforcing unequivocal health and safety policies and procedures. Your organization’s health and safety guidelines play a vital role in developing protocols to address the prevention, early detection, support and recovery of issues such as distress, burnout, substance abuse and other mental health problems.
4. Embrace increased flexibility:
Incorporating greater flexibility into the workplace can significantly improve the mental well-being of your team members by reducing stress and fostering a more accommodating work environment.
5. Allow you to find a balance between work and private life:
Encouraging employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance can help reduce stress and promote mental well-being. This may include flexible working arrangements, promoting time off and encouraging employees to take breaks throughout the day.
6. Promote physical and emotional well-being:
Fostering a work environment that promotes physical and emotional health is essential to having a positive impact on all staff. However, leaders play a vital role, because when they lead by example and introduce and actively participate in workplace health challenges, incentive programs and wider wellbeing initiatives, not only employee well-being improves, but the organization also incurs notable health costs. savings, increased productivity and high morale.
7. Provide mental health training to management:
Managers play a crucial role in promoting mental wellbeing at work. Integrating mental health training into your organization’s management training program gives your leadership team the tools, resources, expertise and skills to effectively foster a healthy workforce. Mental Health.
8. Improve accessibility to mental health support:
Offering an employee assistance program is a crucial first step in enabling your staff to access support for their mental health needs. However, it is important to recognize that resolving mental health issues is an ongoing process that often requires sustained therapy and medication. Difficulty scheduling appointments with therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals during regular business hours can be a barrier to accessing needed care.
The path to follow:
World Mental Health Day 2023 recalls the importance of mental health as a universal human right. By prioritizing mental well-being in the workplace, businesses can create a supportive environment that benefits both employees and the organization as a whole. Through awareness, education and access to resources, we can work towards a world where everyone enjoys good mental health. As the WHO rightly mentioned, There is no health without mental health.
