The Ultimate Guide to Mental Health at Work
Mental health is something that we all have and it’s the way we think and feel and our ability to deal with ups and downs. When we have good mental health we have a sense of purpose, motivation and desire to complete tasks and push ourselves to learn or achieve new things. Having good mental health also means that we’re often also more resilient and can deal with stressful situations far more effectively.
If you enjoy good mental health, you can:
Make the most of your potential
Cope with what life throws at you
Play a full part in your relationships, your workplace, and your community
Our mental health doesn’t always stay the same. It can fluctuate as circumstances change and as you move through different stages in our lives. Distress is a word used to describe times when a person isn’t coping – for whatever reason. It could be something at home, the pressure of work, or the start of a mental health problem like depression. When we feel distressed, we need a compassionate, human response. The earlier we are able to recognise when something isn’t quite right, the earlier we can get support.
What are mental health problems
We all have times when we feel upset, stressed or frightened. Most of the time those feelings pass, but sometimes they develop into a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression, which can impact our daily lives. For some, mental health problems become complex, and require support and treatment for life.
How to support mental health in the workplace
The very best organisations recognise the fundamental importance of supporting the health and wellbeing of their employees. But right now, 1 in 6 employees are dealing with a mental health issue, such as anxiety or depression, which is preventing them from performing at their best. There are many inexpensive adjustments you can implement that will support people to manage their mental health effectively that allow them to thrive.
Recent research demonstrates businesses with high levels of employee engagement have increased productivity, and stronger staff commitment. High employee engagement cannot happen without good mental health. Some evidence shows when employee wellbeing is not supported, engagement reduces, performance levels drop off and staff turnover is increased.
Successfully managing anxiety and stress in the workplace
A recent Acas poll reported 66% of employees have felt stressed and/or anxious about work in the last 12 months. These findings closely resemble the CIPD and Simplyhealth’s ‘Health and Wellbeing at Work’ report. It found 37% of employers reporting increases in stress-related absence, and approximately 60% reporting increases in diagnosed cases of anxiety and depression.
Living with an anxiety disorder can have a huge effect on your day to day life, particularly at work. People may make excuses to duck out of social situations, be unable to meet deadlines, and maintain positive working relationships. Building personal resilience can help to effectively manage workplace anxiety and the feelings of being constantly stressed. Here are 10 ways to avoid spiraling out of control.
What’s the best mental health initiative in the workplace? Whether you are starting out on your journey or have a well-established mental health strategy it is probably a question you’ve asked yourself at some point. Truth is, there is unlikely to be a one size fits all answer. What you choose to implement should be based on several factors. These factors may include the demographic of your workforce, industry, and culture.
Knowing your people is pivotal to the success of any mental health initiative in the workplace. Research shows there are some evidence-based mental health initiatives that support good mental health and positively impact health in the workplace.
References:
https://www.healthyperformance.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-mental-health-at-work/