Promoting mental health in the workplace
For many of us, our work takes up a large portion of our lives. We spend most of our time working and communicating with others. We are constantly surrounded by things that may impact our mental health positively and negatively. Therefore, it’s so important that employees' mental health takes a priority position in every business.
What is mental health:
Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioural, and emotional wellbeing. It’s all about how people think, feel, and behave. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. We all have times when we feel down, stressed, or frightened. Most of the time, those feelings pass. But sometimes, they develop into a more serious problem, and that could happen to any of us. It is therefore important for all of us to be able to identify and recognise when our mental health is deteriorating and address negative thoughts and underlying anxieties.
Current statistics from Mind reveal that at least one in four people in England are affected by a mental illness each year. Whilst they can have devastating impacts on people’s lives, they are also treatable, just like physical conditions. Stress is the most common cause of mental health problems in the workplace. It can affect your behaviour and your mental and physical state.
Organisations putting employee mental health at the forefront
According to Mind, work is the biggest cause of stress in our lives. At some point in everyone's life, they will deal with a form of mental health problem, either directly or indirectly. In fact, one in six workers experience mental health problems at any one time.
The promotion of good mental health in organisations can grow people’s awareness whilst educating them about the importance of mental health. It can also boost employees’ confidence to have open conversations about their mental health and talk about any struggles they may be facing.
How we are prioritising mental health
We respect and understand how each employee is different. Their mental health is at the forefront of our focus as a business, and we do everything possible to offer our support and guidance. We have a range of options for mental health support, confidentiality and confidence are both key factors that we ensure employees have when seeking guidance from us.
We offer mental health support to both our healthcare workers and employees to ensure their mental health and wellbeing is prioritised and cared for.
Mental health workshops
We regularly run mental health workshops and courses that focus on promoting emotional health and resilience in the workplace to improve staff wellbeing and productivity. The workshops allow us to identify the triggers of stress and pinpoint the sources of support available. We also identify practical steps to build resilience and a personalised action plan.
Our workshops cover a variety of topics that are associated with mental health:
- Resilience
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Promotion of wellbeing
- Mindfulness
- Positive behaviour support
- Benefits of exercise
- How to cope with worries
Every individual that attends our workshops should walk away with a greater understanding of themselves and be able to recognise their strengths and utilise them to change the way they see things. This will allow them to build emotional resilience.
Expert support
As a business, we understand the importance of offering support in many forms. No individual is the same, and it’s important to remember and value this. Offering employees, a range of support and resources can allow them to have personal choice and receive the type of support that works best for them and their mental health.
Employee mental health and wellbeing is something that should be prioritised in companies to ensure everyone receives the best support and guidance possible. Mental health is something we all have. It doesn’t always stay the same either; It can fluctuate as circumstances occur or change. Creating a work environment where people can be themselves can allow employees to feel comfortable to speak about their mental health concerns and reach out for help when they need it.
If you wish to receive more professional help, you can contact Samaritans, NHS helpline and Mind.
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