How Employers Can Better Support the Mental Health of Their Staff

Between a global pandemic, concerns over job security, and the increasingly high cost of living, mental health is a big concern in this day and age that can affect all aspects of one’s life – including work.

In this article, we will explain why promoting mental health and offering support to employees is so important, while also breaking down the most important ways you can support your team’s mental health at work.

 How Mental Health Can Affect Your Workplace Atmosphere

According to a study conducted by the Canadian Mental Health Association, 70% of Canadian workers expressed concern about the psychological health and safety of their workplace. These same workers also indicated that workplace stress was the primary cause of their mental illness. This often leads to a decrease in morale, productivity, and possibly a toxic working environment.

So, what can employers and upper management do to combat this concerning trend?

Here are some of the most effective ways to promote strong mental health amongst your team.

Ways Employers Can Take Action

Diminish Stigma And Create A Positive, Supportive Working Environment

Despite being much more accepted in today’s society, there is still a strong stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace. Therefore, it is essential for employers to support their staff by offering education, resources, and open dialogue about mental health to let them know that’s it’s ok to not be ok.

Address Issues Early On 

Between heavy workloads, tight deadlines, and worries over job security, it is easy for staff to start feeling overwhelmed at work, leading to mental health issues.

Therefore, it’s important for management to be in tune with what their team is going through and take steps to help reduce these common stressors while educating their staff and offering resources for coping with workplace stress. This will help to address any underlying issues before they become serious problems.

Improve Productivity and Engagement

When staff feel unmotivated and unproductive in their roles, it can have a direct impact on their mental health. Taking steps to engage staff and motivate them so they feel set up for success can help immensely.

Improve Workplace Culture

The majority of conflict and discontent at work stem from a poor workplace culture. When employees don’t feel supported or excited coming to work every day, underlying issues will eventually bubble to the surface and create conflict.

Whether it’s better communication, aligning departments and encouraging collaboration, offering more benefits, or increasing vacation time, small changes to your company culture will have a direct impact on your team’s mental health.

Encourage Open Communication

When people feel supported enough to be able to express their emotions without fear of judgment, you will begin to notice a dramatic shift in workplace morale. Encouraging open discussion and communication about how your staff is feeling when it comes to mental health and issues in the workplace can do a world of good.

As you can see, mental health in the workplace is incredibly important if you want your staff – and your company – to thrive long-term. Taking steps to make improvements in the workplace is the best way to start, and will yield great results.