It is said that at least one in six workers is experiencing common mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
Despite a lot of media coverage mental health is still a taboo subject.
Many people still feel scared about raising the issue of their mental health at work.
There are a lot of things employers can do to help their staff and there is a lot of things staff can to do help themselves stay well at work
Helping ourselves
Take back that lunch break
It’s surprising how many of us don’t take a break and remain chained to our workstations, eating our lunch at our desks or not at all.
Studies carried out show that taking a lunch break allows our minds to rest, recharge and refocus.
Working for long periods without a break can lead to stress and exhaustion so stop being a martyr and get that lunch break taken.
Use the time of your commute home to wind down from work
If you don’t have to drive to work, try reading a book or listening to a podcast or music whilst commuting to and from work. This can help lift our mood, helping us feel more energised and at ease with ourselves.
Try cycling part of the way if you can or getting off the bus a stop earlier of you can to walk some of the way to help clear your head before the beginning or end of your day, these little steps can really help with clearing your mind and switching off.
If you do have to drive, try sharing the commute with fellow colleagues who live in your area, this not only helps the environment but helps with connecting with your colleagues, having someone to off load with on the way to and from work which can really help and saves money too.
Don’t always be the last to leave work
We all have times when we need to stay back late to meet deadlines but try to keep this the exception not the norm. All those extra hours will eventually take their toll on your concentration, productivity and health which helps no one, least of all you.
Ask for help
If your workload is spiralling out of control, let your manager know. The last thing your employer will want is you having to take time off for stress related illness. Your employer has a duty of care and should make sure you have a safe working environment which includes your mental well being.
Helping your staff
There is still a culture of fear and silence around mental health which is costly to employers.
More than one in five people agreed that they had called in sick to avoid work when asked how workplace stress had affected them
14% of people agreed that they had resigned and a staggering 42% had considered resigning when asked how workplace street had affected them
30% of staff disagreed with the statement “I would feel able to talk openly with my line manager if I was feeling stressed”
More encouragingly 56% of employers said they would like to do more to improve staff wellbeing.
There are lots of things you can do as an employer to support your staff and promote good mental health in the workplace.
Here are just some of the things you can do:
- Ensure staff are given information on how mental health in your workplace is managed and what support is available.
- Raise awareness, you can do this by putting up posters, leaving out leaflets of useful numbers for staff to make contact with services if needed, encourage staff to talk to each other and with managers if a staff member feels they are struggling, let staff know you are there and willing to listen and support them.
- Have regular group meetings whether it be monthly or quarterly to discuss and debate mental health topics, encouraging staff to talk about the subject of mental health. Let staff know that you promote positive mental health and an open-door policy when it comes to talking about mental health issues.
- Speak regularly with team members to check how they are doing and to reflect on what may be causing them stress, promoting an open dialogue. Having regular ones to ones with staff, boosts employee engagement and builds mutual trust. It also helps you to identify issues early on so employees can get the support they need.
- Ensure staff wellbeing is routinely monitored throughout the organisation
- Make sure your staff take regular lunch breaks, work sensible hours and rest and recuperate after busy spells. Make sure they take all their annual leave entitlement and avoid working weekends
Source MIND
Useful links and free stuff USEFUL FREE STUFF
