Recently, the conversation around mental health has become much more open, with many high-profile people sharing their experiences but the subject remains hidden in some workplaces. Balancing work and home responsibilities can be very stressful but addressing mental health at work is important not just for the wellbeing of the employees but also for creating a supportive and productive culture. So as we reach quite a stressful time of year with Christmas on the horizon which is often coupled with bad weather and a busy workplace, we thought we’d look at how both employers and employees can prioritise mental health in this month’s blog.
What is workplace stress?
Employees can become stressed, anxious or depressed for many reasons, and not all will be linked to work, but factors such as a heavy workload, lack of support or a poor work culture can lead to poor mental health. It might be noticed that employees have symptoms including:
- Anxiety or worry
- Exhaustion
- Decreased productivity
- Being off sick more
- Making more mistakes or being unable to concentrate
Supporting good mental health at work
If an employee is starting to struggle, it is important to address the situation early on to prevent more severe mental health issues later. So it’s important for employers to create a culture where mental health is prioritised and this can be done in a number of ways:
Encourage openness – it is important that employees know they can raise issues about mental health, that they will receive an empathetic response and that they will feel supported.
Offer mental health resources – these might be workshops, mental health training or signposting to external support. Mental Health First Aid courses can be a really good way of helping employees support each other by spotting the early signs of distress.
Offer flexible working – it’s now the law that employers have to consider flexible working requests but granting them in good time can help support employees’ mental health. More remote working can help support a better work/life balance while varying an employee’s hours might alleviate stress in the short term.
Breaks are important – getting sufficient rest and time away from work is vital to mental health so employers should encourage their employees to take the leave they are entitled to. During a working day, simple things like getting outside for a walk and fresh air – especially at this time of year – or stopping for a stretch can really help an employee’s mood.
Build mental health into training – supporting managers to be good leaders is an important aspect of good mental health in the workplace so additional training specific to helping them support their teams’ mental health is valuable.
How can employees help themselves?
Everyone has a role to play in maintaining good mental health, and that includes employees – or even the self-employed – themselves. Speaking up when feeling overwhelmed, taking regular breaks, practicing mindfulness activities and simply eating well and exercising can all help workers cope with the inevitable stressful moments at work. Overall, creating a workplace that promotes good mental health is the responsibility of both employers and employees and a supportive culture at work will improve outcomes for everyone.