Mental health is a critical factor in the workplace that many managers and business owners overlook.
Taking an active role in ensuring the mental health of your team should be at the top of your list as it’s something that makes, or breaks, an organization.
Successful management teams know just how important it is to make sure team members are happy and healthy both inside and outside the workplace.
In this blog post, we’re going to discuss how you can be proactive in protecting the mental health of your team through providing mental health care services in the workplace.
Read on for 4 tangible actions you can take to ensure your team thrives.
A Healthy Team = A Successful Business
Having a team of mental health employees is essential for any company to succeed and thrive.
When mental health is not taken into consideration, productivity can suffer as employees become overwhelmed, unmotivated, and more likely to leave their job.
Allowing for communication about mental health concerns and providing support and resources to ensure everyone in the organization is taking proactive steps to maintain their mental wellbeing allows companies to have productive, motivated, and supportive team members.
Beyond that, creating an open culture around conversations related to mental health fosters a safe space where honest feedback is encouraged. When companies provide this sort of environment, it has been proven that teams are happier, more productive and have higher retention rates.
Taking the time to focus on the mental wellbeing of a team pays off in improved performance at all levels.
As a Leader, You Have a ‘Duty Of Care’:
Employer’s have a legal responsibility known as their “duty of care” to look after the physical and mental wellbeing of their employees in the United Kingdom.
This requires managers and business owners to take reasonable steps to protect their team from any harm, stress or illness. It covers everything from providing physically safe practices with adequate breaks and facilities, all the way through to having balanced workloads and addressing any team grievances in a meaningful way.
Ultimately it is about setting a baseline for creating an inclusive atmosphere filled with respect, safety and understanding for every person in an organization – something which will inevitably lead to improved team morale and productivity in the long run.
Common Mental Health Concerns In The Workplace:
Mental health has become an ever increasing concern in the workplace. In the UK, 1 in 6 workers have reported struggles with poor mental health, and it is essential for companies to understand what the most common problems are in order to properly combat them.
The most common mental health issues faced by those working include anxiety and depression, as many people experience high levels of stress due to workloads, deadlines and their relationships with work colleagues.
There have also been reported increases in loneliness as employees look to work remotely or adjust to new ways of working.
As well as this, there are physical impacts of mental health that can present themselves in ways such as exhaustion and fatigue due to stress related burnout. Ultimately, understanding the needs of an employee is key – both mentally and physically – so that optimal performance is not hindered by any issue faced.
Top 4 Ways To Protect Your Team’s Mental Health:
As a leader, your team’s mental health should be at the forefront of your concern. In fact, 39% of employees reported that their work environment has had an impact on their mental wellness.
To ensure that you and your team are creating a positive and supportive work environment, here are four key strategies to prioritize and protect your team’s mental health:
Create a Supportive Work Environment:
Mental health issues should not be a taboo subject in the workplace. A recent survey revealed that despite this, 1 in 5 employees remain too fearful to inform their manager if they are facing stress and/or mental health difficulties.
To create an open environment where these matters can be discussed safely without discrimination or stigma, organizations need to ensure staff know their mental wellbeing is just as important as physical.
A good starting point is opening up communication channels so that team members can voice their thoughts and feelings without fear of repercussions or judgment.
This could take the form of regular one-on-one meetings, anonymous feedback forms, or open forums in which everyone can express themselves openly and safely.
Additionally, installing some form of mental health support may be beneficial to both employers and employees; offering flexible working hours, stress reduction activities, and access to psychological services are all excellent examples.
Ultimately, these initiatives ensure employees recognize their mental well-being is valued by a supportive leader and workplace environment.
Check In Regularly With Your Team:
Work-related stress can be overwhelming and it often takes a toll on our mental health. Unfortunately, many of us are reluctant to ask for help due to fear or misunderstanding. This is why managers should take initiative in discussing these issues with their staff—breaking the silence creates an opportunity to build up trust and gain access to much needed support earlier on.
These conversations don’t need to be long or formal. Simply asking how they are doing, it shows them that you are there for them and want to help if needed.
Furthermore, it gives managers an opportunity to spot any issues early on so they can intervene quickly and provide resources for support.
Being attentive will not only demonstrate your company’s commitment to a healthier working environment, but will ultimately result in a more productive team with happier employees.
Be Willing To Have Tough Conversations:
As a manager, you already have the necessary tools to sensitively address mental health issues – common sense, empathy and active listening.
Topics such as mental health can be uncomfortable for everyone involved, so it’s essential to start the dialogue with them in an understanding and supportive manner. Avoid using overly formal language or jumping straight into escalation tactics. Patience and empathy will further foster trust between everyone involved.
A few more tips when having this conversation include:
- Choosing a private place that is quiet and comfortable
- Ask simple, open-ended, non-judgmental questions
- Don’t make assumptions
- Respond in a flexible way – everyone’s experience with mental health is different!
- Be honest and direct with them
- Remind them that this conversation is confidential
- Bring up any concerns you’ve noticed (high number of absences, low productivity)
An appropriate response from managers helps ensure staff members get proper care and support during difficult times.
Collaborate Together To Find a Solution:
Working with your employee to craft an action plan is a great way to start taking care of their mental health.
This plan should include signs that could signal the onset of mental health issues, potential triggers for stress, and how it might affect work performance. It’s also important to make sure both parties know who they can contact in case the issue worsens – plus what kind of support measures are necessary at different times throughout this process.
This plan may include:
- A change of workspace
- More flexible hours
- Changes to their role in the company
- Extra help managing their workload
- Mentor systems
- Identifying a ‘safe space’ within the company
- More positive feedback
Finally, be sure you both set up regular check-ins where you review your regularly together in order to make adjustments as needed.
Support From a Leader Can Make All The Difference:
A leader in any company has a duty to ensure that the team is running as smoothly as possible, and one invaluable tool for doing so is making sure their team members’ mental health is taken into account.
It can be hard for employees to reach out and open up about personal issues, especially matters of mental health, which significantly affects their overall performance and wellbeing. However, a supportive and understanding leader makes it easier for workers to step out of their comfort zone and turn to them if they need help.
With leaders being more aware of the importance of mental health in the workplace, the happier and healthier employees will be – something that all companies should strive towards!
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