What is mental health?
Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. In the world, one in eight people suffers from a mental illness. Significant disruptions in thought, emotion regulation, or behaviour are symptoms of mental illnesses.
There are numerous varieties of mental illnesses such as:
Anxiety disorders
Depression
Bipolar disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Eating disorders
Why is it important?
Since it affects every aspect of our life, mental health is more crucial than ever. However, there are a lot of stigmas associated with anything that has to do with mental health. Good mental health has an impact on everything we do, think, and say. Stabilizing constructive habits, emotions, and thoughts requires maintaining good mental health and managing any mental health disorders. Concentrating on mental health care can boost productivity, improve our self-perception, and strengthen our bonds with others.
Taking care of our mental health can also provide the following advantages:
Lifting our spirits
Lowering our fear
Fostering a greater sense of inner calm
Higher level of clarity
Enhancing our connections
Employee's and mental health
Workers' mental health can have a big impact on the office in a lot of different ways, such as reduced productivity because people with poor mental health may find it hard to focus, be productive, or meet deadlines, which can damage the quality and production of their work. Secondly, it can result in higher turnover rates for the company, which means workers with poor mental health may find it difficult to handle the demands of their jobs or the work environment and may decide to leave the organisation.
Significant safety issues can be raised because an employee's poor mental health can impair their decision-making and ability to do their job in a safe manner, which can result in accidents or mistakes that put them or others in danger. It is evident that poor mental health at work can have a variety of detrimental effects on output, retention of employees, and overall work culture which is why it is so important for companies to make effort in protecting their employee's mental health. As a result, putting mental health first at work is crucial for both employee well-being and company performance.
What can companies do?
Promoting a mentally healthy and effective workforce requires taking important measures to protect employees' mental health. By encouraging open communication, teamwork, and respect among coworkers, large businesses may foster a healthy work environment that will safeguard their employees' mental health. Businesses can assist this by cultivating an environment where employees feel valued, appreciated, and supported.
Another essential means of assisting workers is by giving them access to resources for mental health. Access to mental health options like counselling, therapy, and support groups is something that businesses can offer. Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) or health insurance plans may make these resources available.
Thirdly, managers need to be educated on mental health concerns because they are key players in encouraging employee well-being. Some training managers could benefit from could be about challenges related to mental health, including how to see the early signs of stress or burnout, how to help struggling employees, and how to foster a caring workplace.
Companies that have promoted mental health awareness
Starbucks provides up to 20 free counselling sessions per year as a mental health benefit to all employees, including part-timers. In order to give its managers the knowledge and tools they need to assist the mental health of their staff, the company also developed a mental health training programme.
Google provides a variety of mental health support programmes, such as a mental health coaching programme, on-site mental health practitioners, and an employee assistance programme. Regular workshops and activities aimed at promoting mental health awareness and eradicating stigma are also hosted by the company.
Through an Employee Support Program and on-site mental health professionals available to employees, L'Oréal has prioritised employee mental health. To raise awareness and lessen stigma, the corporation also regularly sponsors workshops and events on mental health.
Overall, it is evident that promoting mental health awareness has many benefits and can aid both the employees and the workplace. Large businesses can assure the protection of their employee's mental health and foster a happy and effective workforce by incorporating these measures.