The workplace has never had a reputation for being the best place to spend a bad day, but maybe it is time for a change. Here are 5 ways in which organizations can support the mental health of employees.
- Understand impact: The managers need to be trained to recognize the signs of emotional distress among the employees. Here are some proactive steps the managers can take:
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- Make mental health training mandatory for the leaders to help them to be more aware and invested in the mental well-being of an employee
- Train managers on what to do if they see a sign of emotional distress and substance abuse
- Consider using surveys to measure how mental health and stress are affecting productivity
- Expand plan cover: Talking about mental health is considered taboo and doesn’t get the required attention. Many fail to understand that mental health is directly proportional to physical health. Increasing the scope of the policies to cover mental health will encourage the employees to take proper action regarding their mental well-being when required.
- Establish Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Many organizations use EAP to support employees’ mental health. Employees may be reluctant to use these programs due to the stigma attached to it. Hence to encourage the employees to use EAP, the organizations can:
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- Emphasize that the resource can be accessed confidentially and free of charge
- Make it easy for employees to know who to talk to or where to access the resources
- Offer this resource not only to employees but also to their immediate family members
- Reduce stigma: Using different forms of communication to reduce stigma will help more to come forward and discuss it. Having training sessions, conducting surveys, having a counselor, and explaining the role played by the counselor, will help reduce the stigma around mental health.
- Promote employee well-being: Employee well-being should not just be in the form of policies but also in actions. A few steps to be considered are:
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- Consider having a meditation room at the workplace
- One can have daily group meditation sessions for the employees for creating a joyful and positive atmosphere
- Encourage employees to use their vacation time
- Develop a return to work policy for the employees who took a break for their mental health issues. They will feel encouraged and can be role models for others
Organizations should encourage employees to build connections with each other through social events, affinity groups, and various other platforms. After all, healthy employees form a healthy organization!
