We know that our work environment can have some severe impacts on our
happiness and well-being. Many of the suggestions to support employee
mental health set out above also apply to supporting long term
homeworkers. For example, if an employees answers seem very focused
around not feeling confident enough to carry out tasks. According to the
NHS Confederation , there has been a significant rise in people
reporting severe mental health difficulties and its believed that this
is due to many avoiding using health services during the height of the
pandemic. Working in a supportive team is hugely important for our
mental health at work.
The same goes for taking annual leave.
Employers can often dismiss these signs as an employee who is just being
difficult or lazy. A reaction to a difficult life event, such as
bereavement, can make managing employees with mental health issues
higher on the agenda. I share the tools, techniques and data to help
mitigate that stress component before it develops into a mental health
issue or crisis, she said. But if you have poor wellbeing for a long
time you might start to find things more difficult to cope with. We just
need to become better active listeners in the workplace, so we can say
OK, I can see youre struggling here, lets go for a walk and you can tell
me aboutit.
Managers should communicate that talking about
mental health will lead to support and not discrimination. It includes
advice to avoid using general phrases about working under stressful
conditions as well as warning against an emphasis on soft skills and
personality traits. The loneliness of being separated from family,
friends and partners is also having a huge impact on feelings of
suicide. If you are a manager then workplace mental health
is a subject that you will be aware of. Mental health problems have a
greater impact on peoples ability to work than any other group of
disorders. So how can employers look after their workers, and support
them during this difficult time, if mental health is still considered to
be one of those taboo topics?
Share when things are difficult
for you. You could use them as the background on your mobile phone or
computer screen. As a result, many people will either miss work or will
get less done on the job. However conversely, employment can provide
individuals with purpose, financial resources and a source of identify;
which has been shown to promote increased positive mental wellbeing.
There are small, simple steps you can take to make workplace wellbeing initiatives something that people can talk about. You could also give meditation a go.
Thats why in honour of Mental Health Awareness Week, weve gathered a
few tips on how to look after your mental health as a student. While I
dont suffer with SAD, even I feel the benefit. Often, there can be
budget or resource constraints, but mental wellbeing is an essential
focus for small businesses. The effect of mental health on a business
can be felt with how productive workers are in their day-to-day line of
work. As an employer you can only do so much, however, so encourage your
employees to look to their support network of friends, family members
and mental health professionals. Whether you work with 10 people, 10000
people or just yourself, paying attention to managing and supporting mental health at work has never been more important.
Acas Learning OnLine Acas offers freee-learning courses including
Mental Health Awareness for Employers. Feeling overwhelmed from a
mountain of work can contribute to anxiety and depression, so making a
to-do list can help people stay on track. Morale, autonomy and team
dynamics can have an effect on workplace stress and subsequently
productivity. For busy times, or times when you are feeling low or
stressed, try reducing or giving up caffeine and refined sugar.
Mindfulness can help us to become more aware of our thoughts and
feelings so that, instead of being overwhelmed by them, were able to
manage them better.
The studies have found that when depression
is adequately treated, companies reduce job-related accidents, sick
days, and employee turnover, as well as improve the number of hours
worked and employee productivity. Looking after mental health at work training
can sometimes be quite difficult. Finally, there is the learning part
of the building up of resilience. Prevention in the early stage can
certainly reduce the likelihood of people with mental problems turning
violent or doing extreme things including murder and committing suicide.
There are lots of ways that we can look after our mental health and
wellbeing; different techniques work for different people but there are
some basic things we should all try. Another major factor that can be
considered when trying to make a lower-stress office a reality can be
breakaway zones.
Is there a friend or family member nearby you
could message? Are there any online or virtual community groups you
could join to support others locally? Remember, it is important to do
this in line with official coronavirus guidance to keep everyone safe.
They may feel as if their heart is pounding at a rapid rateor that they
can feel pain in their chest. You might not be talking about it, because
mental health first aid in the workplace
is still a taboo subject. The important thing is that you're
comfortable. This is true in family settings and at the workplace. In
addition, companies can make sure that they hire and train managers
well.
In order to reduce costs to the business, boost employee
performance and improve mental health, employers must ensure that
workplace design is used to target the three pillars of health. Try
different things and see what works for you. Around half of all
long-term sick leave in the UK is due to stress, depression and anxiety.
Discussing employers duty of care
can be a good way to alleviate a difficult situation. When you no
longer have a job to report to every day, you can easily lose momentum.
Keep alcohol use to a minimum and avoid other drugs.
Good
management practice suggests that regular team meetings and confidential
supervision sessions between managers and their staff are good for
business and good for staff engagement. It allows our most engaged
readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss
real-world solutions, and more. Try not to make assumptions about what
that person is experiencing. Everyone has mental health and, like
physical health, it fluctuates along a spectrum. Talking about dealing with depression at work
is a good step forward. Many people making the case for attention to
mental health in the workplace cite the need to look at workers health
and safety more holistically, addressing not only physical welfare but
mental and emotional well-being as well.
A simple example would
be an employee suffering from anxiety due to high personal debt, which
as well as impacting on their private life may result in the demands of
their job now becoming impossible for them to cope with. Taking care of
all aspects of you will increase the likelihood that you stay well. When
I resumed work things got no better I was targeted even more. You could
use this time to talk about any problems you are having at work. Public
Health professionals are ideally placed to lead by example, they must
take steps to understand and recognise the mental health and wellbeing
needs of the workforce and promote a culture of good mental health for
employees in the settings they work as well across other settings.
Everyone should feel safe and supported to talk about mental health training for managers with their line manager.
There is also stigma and discrimination against people with mental
health problems, which may be reduced by improving public understanding
of their experiences. Exercise such as working out at the gym can have a
positive impact on stress levels,with research finding employed adults
who are more active tend to have lower stress rates, compared to those
who arent as active. This, combined with the process described under
Developing a Workplace Plan , can help improve your approach to
performance management. Their employers may have further legal
requirements, to make reasonable adjustments under equalities
legislation. Sufferers of mental health conditions, however, need to
feel comfortable opening up within a circle of trust.
The
eating disorder charity BEAT provides a helpline for people with eating
challenges and some guidance on managing treatment, mealtimes, exercise
and change to routines and socialising. Recent reports have discovered a
crisis around mental health in the workplace
today. The app has instructions for diaphragmatic breathing exercises
and can measure users heart rates. There are a number of ways to
approach awareness and support that includes things like champions,
advocates, user groups. Dont be afraid to push back against requests
that might create extra stress in your life. The good news is theres
been a positive shift in the attitude towards this issue.
Everyone will have an opinion, but dont allow those to overwhelm you.
Occupational Health can assess the team member and suggest adjustments
that could be made to help the team member return to work. We understand
mental healthis as important as physical health. Ramsay is committed to
protecting the security of your personal information. WHO has stressed
that organisations have a responsibility to support individuals with
mental disorders in either continuing or returning to work.