Create a mental-health-friendly work environment

With more than half of the workforce working in the formal economy, companies often struggle to retain employees and increase their performance and productivity. One critical issue contributing to this challenge is mental health in the workplace.

Considered well-being and a fundamental human right by the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health needs are at an all-time high, with an estimated 12 billion working days being lost every year due to mental issues such as anxiety and depression, costing over 1 trillion dollars in lost productivity!

With 1 in 8 people worldwide living with a mental disorder, it is imperative companies and their leaders create safe and healthy environments that promote and protect the employee’s mental health.

What should companies do to promote a healthier workplace?

WHO has given some tips and practices that companies can follow to provide their employees with better mental health and safety conditions at the workplace:

• Preventing work-related mental health conditions by addressing risks to employee well-being at work can be done by identifying and mitigating risks that can cause unnecessary stress. This can include training and encouraging small and regular breaks.
• Promote and protect mental health at the workplace and foster a supportive environment with wellness programs, mental health literacy, access to counselling services or even stress-reduction initiatives such as therapy dog day. 
• Support employees with mental health conditions by having policies that ensure support for employees with mental health challenges. These policies can include providing reasonable accommodations that meet employees’ needs.
• Provide mental health training for managers as they work directly with teams. This will allow them to recognise and respond to employees who might experience emotional distress. In addition, it builds interpersonal skills and provides a healthier workplace environment.
  
• Offer solutions/interventions personalised to help employees develop stress management skills and alleviate mental health symptoms. These include psychosocial support and opportunities for leisure-focused physical activities.

Employees, from CEOs to the hiring crew and the IT team — well, everyone — have the right to a healthy environment where the company protects and promotes their physical and mental well-being. By investing these practices in their culture, companies can expect an engaged, motivated, and productive workforce!