Empowering Informed Decision-Making in Mental Health
A grown-up individual spends 35 hours per week on average at work. This adds up to almost 90,000 hours in their lifetime. Although these numbers can vary largely depending on your job role, the country where you reside, and the industry you work in, it’s still safe to say that adult spend most of their waking hours in their workplace. The workplace thus plays a critical role in an employee's social and emotional support.
However, it’s concerning to see that an overwhelming 64%of employees between 21 and 30 years old report high stress. From navigating job expectations to personal life expectations, India’s younger workforce is facing the heat amidst a growing mental health crisis.
Employees with high levels of stress are likely to have reduced productivity, high absenteeism, and lower engagement and commitment to work, all of which can negatively impact the company's bottom line.
So, the onus largely lies with the employers to empower their employees with proper mental health resources so that employees can make informed decisions and take control of their mental health.
In this article, we will explore how organizations can provide important resources and tools to spread awareness and empower employees to make more informed decisions in regard to their mental health.
Impact of poor mental health on workplace efficiency
Poor mental health at the workplace results in workplace fatigue, low productivity, burnout, and disengagement at work, to name a few. Chronic workplace stress can further lead to mental health difficulties, including lack of sleep, confusion, inability to make decisions at work, depression, irritability, and so on.
Apart from encouraging employees to take regular breaks and offering flexibility, employers need to holistically approach the issue. Introducing a few resources or tools is not enough; employers also need to empower their employees to make the right decisions regarding their mental health.
Taking charge of your mental health
Taking care of mental health issues is not easy. But here are a few things that can help your employees navigate the path in a better way!
Communicate more than you need to
Communication can solve many problems while helping to reduce stress and setting expectations. Managers must maintain a culture of open communication where employees can feel safe to be vulnerable and talk about their mental health issues.
Managers can lead by example by talking about their own problems, which can help remove stigma and make employees feel more comfortable talking about their mental health challenges.
Invest in mental health resources and make them available
While many companies are proactively investing in resources and tools to make mental health treatment accessible to their employees, it’s equally important to communicate about the available resources to the employees. If you have shared them already, share them again. Normalize using these resources because shame and stigma may inhibit many employees from using the resources.
Offer flexible working
Introducing flexible work hours, asynchronous communication, and remote work opportunities can also be beneficial as they give employees more control over their work day. This can significantly reduce stress levels as they can manage their time better.
Provide comprehensive education and resources
Investing in mental health resources and communicating about it once is not enough. To empower employees, organizations must regularly conduct workshops with mental health experts.
This can help employees in early recognition of their mental health challenges so they can seek help at the right time. Employers must also share information about the different types of mental health support available. For example, if an employer has invested in Manah’s LEAP program, talk about it to your employees and how they can access the program and benefit from it. Or, if your organization offers subscriptions to meditation apps, popularize them among your people.
Listen to your employees and use their feedback
Gathering employee feedback is crucial. When employers not only gather feedback but actually put it to work, it has psychological benefits, and employees feel valued. Additionally, implementing programs that are beneficial to the employees makes your initiatives a success. Use tools like anonymous surveys, suggestion boxes during town halls, and focus group meetings to understand the pulse of the employees.
Include mental health in your health insurance policies
Medical health insurances are offered by most organizations. But most of these policies take care only of the physical health of the employees. In different surveys, employees have mentioned that they consider work-life balance and personal wellbeing above anything else when considering a new job. This means that new employees are looking for support from their employers. Providing different mental health resources and offering employees the option to include mental health in their health insurance policies is a great way to show care and support.
How do you empower your employees to take charge of their mental health? Do let us know in the comments!
FAQ
How frequently should companies conduct mental health assessments for their employees?
Companies should conduct confidential mental health assessments quarterly to identify trends and provide timely support to employees who might be struggling.
Can team-building activities help improve workplace mental health?
Yes, regular team-building activities can foster better relationships, reduce isolation, and create a more supportive work environment that positively impacts mental health.
