Promoting positive mental health at work has recently become a hot topic. The topic itself rises among the people since the pandemic is one of the causes of mental health.

The mental health charity Mind recently reported that the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns could worsen these problems. As a result, workplace attention to mental health and well-being has become more critical than before.

Furthermore, the research has shown that the workplace has a significant impact on mental health. A study by the Mental Health Foundation found that 1 in 6.8 people have experienced mental health problems in the workplace. 

There are many risk factors for mental health that may be present in the working environment. Heavy workloads, toxic working environments, and poor management from a leadership team are just a few factors that cause mental health.

Ultimately, it will increase everyone’s productivity and create a positive workplace.

If you wonder how positive mental health works throughout the organization, you can find the answer down here.

How To Promote Positive Mental Health

Productive employees are the drivers of any company’s success. However, mental health issues are affecting their productivity and overall well-being. Use the following strategies and tips to promote mental positive mental health.

Reduce The Stigma

There are a lot of negative stigmas that appear when someone is talking about mental health. Therefore, you can try to normalize conversations about mental health within the workplace. It is the best way to reduce the stigma.

According to a recent study, 71% of workers are not comfortable discussing their mental health at work. The statistical data show that something needs to be done about tackling mental health in the workplace.

Leaders who are openly willing to discuss and listen to their employees’ mental health experiences have indirectly created a safe work environment.

Make Wellness A Priority

According to health and safety legislation, mental health and wellbeing are essential as physical wellbeing

In this case, you can encourage your employees by offering free gym memberships, healthy eating, and participating in leisure activities.

By making good habits a priority, it can help employees feel valued and motivated.

Create A Positive Work Environment

A toxic working environment can be a factor in causing mental health at work. It will lead your employee to burnout, stress, anxiety, and chronic fatigue.

Creating a healthy working environment can have a positive impact on employees. The following suggestions can help companies create positive work environments:

• Recognize and reward employees for their contributions to the company.
• Offer benefits that promote work-life balance, such as flexible schedules and work-from-home opportunities.
• Encourage employees to build strong professional relationships with employee engagement and team-building activities.

Promote Work-Life Balance

Employees should be able to balance their personal and professional life. Stop expecting your employee to answer emails and to work after hours or even on the weekends.

Without a healthy work-life balance, employees are more likely to burn out it will lower your productivity. Encourage everyone to develop a rich, full life outside of the office.

Thus, you can encourage your employees to do their hobbies, spend time with loved ones, and take care of themselves to improve their work-life balance.

As a leader, you could also offer flexible working to enable employees to fit work around their other responsibilities. 

Encourage Your Employees To Spend Time Outside.

It is essential to exercise in the fresh air. If you have spare time, you can invite your employees to get out and relax for a while from the office.

By strolling around your lunchtime or doing a light exercise can promote positive mental health and boost team morale. Moreover, these activities also reduced stress and anxiety.

Talk About EAP benefit Often

An employee assistance program (EAP) is a company benefit that provides employee counseling services to help overcome any challenge that might adversely impact their work performance, health, and wellbeing.

Whether an employee is experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional distress, marital and family issues, EAPs can help employees deal with the issues that detract from their performance. 

The best part is the program is free and private.

Nevertheless, we sometimes found that some companies don’t remind their employees to use the services.

In order to promote positive mental health, companies should be more active in reminding employees to take the EAP service.

Provide Mental Health Training

Supervisors and managers are the closest people to their team members. Hence, they are also the first to notice any signs of burnout or other mental health issues to help when needed.

Providing mental health training for managers can help them recognize and manage an employee’s mental health issues better.

Nowadays, employee mental health is no longer personal. But it is also the responsibility of the employer.

There are numerous ways to promote positive mental health at work. Take this as your guide to promote mental health in the workplace for you and your team. 

So it can be beneficial to create a more supportive and honest working environment.

The Benefits Of Promoting Positive Mental Health At Work

As we said before, promoting positive mental health at work can be enormously beneficial for employers and employees. Although it’s explained by the World Health Organization, workplaces that actively promote employee mental health and offer adequate support are much more likely to:

• Increase productivity
• Reduce absenteeism
• Increased economic contributions
• Better working relationships between employees and leadership
• Improved employee engagement
• Increased employee retention and loyalty

To summarize, mental health in the workplace is a topic that should be a priority all year round. It’s also essential to promote positive mental health and create a culture where employees can talk openly about their issues.

Taking proactive measures can significantly improve staff wellbeing and encourage employees to seek the support they need. Employees who feel their employer cares about their overall health and well-being are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and less likely to leave.

Although these are just a few suggestions, hopefully, they can help you take the step to tackle mental health in your workplace.

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