InThisTogether Mental Health Awareness Month: How to Support Mental Health of the Employees at the Workplace?

How many of your workers suffer from chronic stress? How many people suffer from anxiety? Do any of them seem to be depressed?

It is difficult to answer these questions because, when someone is dealing with a mental health problem, it isn’t always obvious.

Stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders have signs that can be masked or misunderstood.

May is considered as the Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness of mental illnesses, minimize stigma, and provide corporate mental health initiatives to those affected by them.

With polls indicating that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing a significant increase in stress levels and mental well-being consequences, Mental Health Awareness Month is more critical than ever.

It may come as a shock to learn that one out of every six people may have a severe mental illness at some point in their lives.

As a result, Mental Health Awareness Month seeks to raise awareness about the importance of mental health at the workplace by conducting mental health corporate events and corporate mental health programs.

In this blog post, we will learn how to create mental awareness at your workplace and how to support the mental health of your employees during these challenging times! So, let’s get started!

Why is Mental Health in the Workplace Important?

When it comes to employee health, many companies fall short. Most corporate programs emphasize physical health through benefits such as dental insurance and prescription medication coverage. 

Instead, a company should focus on corporate mental health programs.

Our brains are just as crucial to our overall health, considering the adverse effects mental disorders can have on physical health, such as elevated blood pressure, hormonal imbalances, and increased cancer risk.

When an employee is under stress, their job suffers as well. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with an estimated 172 million workdays lost each year due to depression.

People are less active, concentrated, and efficient due to stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Boost Mental Health Awareness in and Around the Workplace!

Give workers access to national organizations as a part of corporate mental health initiatives, including the American Psychiatric Association, the Mental Health America, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness for education and services. 

Companies may also create their health and wellness workshop ideas. Some companies began an educational campaign, helping staff to reach out to co-workers who tend to be in distress. 

There are many videos available on the ICU Campaign regarding asking relevant questions when someone seems to be struggling as part of the company’s ICU campaign (which stands for Identifying, Connecting, and Understanding).

How Do You Assist Your Employees in Coping Up with Their Mental Health?

Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can support your employees’ mental health. Such instances are as follows: 

1. Stop Treating Mental Illness as a Taboo: The first step in overcoming stigma is to stop treating mental illness as a taboo. If it’s a book you’ve read, a television show you’ve seen, or a personal encounter you’ve had, talking about it frankly and without embarrassment can make others realize they’re not alone. 
2. Continue the Conversation: Workplace culture must be nurtured, which means that you can’t just bring up mental health once and expect it to become common. Find many ways to integrate the topic into the employees’ daily routines such that it remains on the top-of-their-mind.
3. Include Employees at All Levels: As discussed previously, there should be a rise in mental awareness among all your employees. Mental health corporate events should be conducted regularly. Your workers won’t believe you care about their well-being until every manager and executive shows that mental health is essential.
4. Encourage Workers to Take Mental Health Days Off: It might be time to stop requiring employees to have a doctor’s note or other “legitimate” excuse for missing work. Giving your mind and body a short break now and then is an integral part of preventative health. Encouraging your employees to take off from work to relax will help them avoid developing more severe mental health problems in the future.
5. Pay Attention and Be Willing to Assist: If you see an employee acting strangely (for example, irritability or a bad mood), don’t be afraid to inquire about it. Tell them that you’re there to help and that they do have access to assistive services, even though they say they’re good. Try conducting some health and wellness workshop ideas to get them involved and motivated!
6. Ensure the Software and Services You’re Using Are Up to Date: It doesn’t matter how much information you provide to your workers, if it’s obsolete or irrelevant. In reality, it may be harmful. Audit your mental health services regularly to ensure that they are reliable, up-to-date, and provide practical advice that your workers can use to improve their mental health.
7. Accessibility to These Resources: Like the previous point, if knowledge is difficult to locate, the employees may not get any use out of it. Reduce barriers to entry by making content available in various formats (audio, video, published, etc.) and reducing the number of steps required to locate it.
8. Prioritize Privacy and Anonymity: Even if mental well-being is becoming more common in the workplace, some people might still be hesitant to talk about it, mainly if they are dealing with addiction, depression, or suicidal thoughts. Assure your employees that their privacy is of paramount importance to you and that their use of mental health services will never be monitored.
9. Create a Mentally Stable Work Environment: It’s essential that the workers feel energized and uplifted at work. According to research, when people are relaxed in workspaces with natural lighting, plants, and other positive features, efficiency, participation, and overall health increase.
10. Focus on the Positive: While mental illness is a significant problem, it can also be treated in a way that helps people feel heard, valued, and optimistic. Often leave the staff with the impression that they have a simple course of action ahead of them and that they or their loved ones will recover.

So, these were some ways to raise mental awareness among the employees and help them in need! Last but not least, here are some key glossary terms this Mental Health Awareness Month to keep you updated!

If you’re looking for any mental health corporate events at your workplace, join us now!

1. Mental Illness: Any mental illness is characterized as a mental, behavioural, or emotional condition that met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) criteria in the previous year (excluding developmental disorders and substance use disorders). The effect of mental illness can range from no disability to mild, moderate, and extreme impairment.
2. Mindfulness: It is a psychological condition in which you are mindful of your current situation in the present moment without passing any judgment on it. Mindfulness can be attained by activities that promote discipline and the development of skills like calmness and concentration.

Allow Us to Organize Events for your Company!

At KIS Cubed Events, we have the experience and skills to help your workers succeed, whether you already have corporate mental health programs in place or are looking to start from scratch. Get ideas for mental health corporate events and corporate mental health initiatives by contacting us right now!