How Employers Can Help Support Workplace Mental Health
Workplace Mental Health for Employers
When it comes to workplace mental health, January is the ‘bluest’ month of the year for many folks in the Northern Hemisphere. Research shows that an average of 15% of the population feel some type of winter blues. Add to that depression, anxiety, and SADs (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and you’ve got a difficult month. Several reasons contribute to this, but a significant factor is the lack of vitamin D during the winter months. This deficiency disproportionately impacts people of colour.
Workplace Mental Health Topics We Cover
The impact of workplace mental health measures can dramatically reduce negative impacts, especially during the winter months. In this blog, we will cover the impact of mental health on employees and discuss how to recognize signs of mental health issues in the workplace. Additionally, we'll explore key resources and steps for employers or managers to better support employee well-being.
The Impact of Mental Health on Employees
There are a range of common mental health disorders that show up in the workplace, with the most common being anxiety and stress, depression, and burnout (more on that one later). Performance, morale, and job satisfaction are likely to be directly impacted by these disorders.
Recognizing the Signs of Mental Health Issues
There are some common signs of mental health issues in your workplace that you can keep an eye out for. The most obvious one is likely to be behavioural changes – for example, normally polite employees making rude comments. Changes in appearance or hygiene are also common, however, these changes may be harder to spot if you have hybrid or remote teams.
Performance Issues
A more obvious sign may be a decline in performance, although this may take a little longer to manifest. Employees suddenly not hitting their KPIs or slowing down in the completion of normal duties would be good examples of this. Related to this would be sudden attendance or punctuality issues from employees who have previously been very punctual.
Interpersonal Challenges
These issues may surface as interpersonal challenges – for example, someone who previously got along with their colleagues is suddenly picking fights. If you are seeing one or more of these signs in your workforce, it is important to consider if mental health is playing a part and what you can do to improve the situation.
Creating a Stigma-Free Workplace
Mental health issues are just as debilitating as physical ailments, and should be treated with the same amount of care as those issues you can ‘see.’ There is a serious stigma around mental health that often makes mental health issues significantly worse. It is unlikely an employee would try and hide a broken leg from their employer – but that same employee may very well try and hide the depression they’ve been struggling with.
Your Responsibilities as an Employer
Employers carry the responsibility to decide how the workplace handles mental health issues. There are complex legal and ethical obligations that accompany this responsibility but implementing supportive mental health policies and training from the top down is a strong approach.
Foster Open Communication
One of the foundational cornerstones to build your policies on is normalizing mental health discussions by fostering and encouraging open conversations. It is highly unlikely anyone will pay attention to your mental health policy if they feel they can’t even talk about it. You don’t have to be friends with your employees but a little humanity, even vulnerability, goes a long way in opening those doors.
Here is a list of workplace mental health policies and strategies to consider:
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Employee well-being programs
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Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
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Mental health workshops and training
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Flexible work arrangements
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Wellness initiatives, which could include classes or education on:
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Self-care techniques;
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Stress management;
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Mindfulness and meditation;
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Setting boundaries and;
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Promoting a healthy work-life balance
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Sharing success stories
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Sharing and educating employees on mental health resources
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Encouraging peer support
Burnout in the Workplace
Burnout is directly connected to the specific tasks, responsibilities, company culture, and management style within the workplace. Unlike anxiety, stress, and depression, which can often be effectively managed through external resources, addressing burnout requires direct intervention from within the company. Overcoming burnout poses a significant challenge for employers. Employees who are severely burnt out may lack the motivation to recover within their current employment, preferring to find another job or do the bare minimum to get by.
Triggers of Burnout
Burnout is frequently caused by sudden increases in workload, unfamiliar tasks, toxic management styles, or frustration stemming from external factors beyond an employee's control. These triggers are worsened if a company doesn’t have clear, well-established processes in place to manage these stressors.
Tactics to Manage Burnout
If your employees exhibit signs of burnout, there are effective strategies to positively impact their mental health. Initiating a thoughtful, honest discussion with your employee(s), along with their manager and peers, can uncover where the burnout is coming from. Rapidly implementing a solution (or solutions) based on the root cause can not only reverse the burnout but will also usually result in improved productivity and a more positive company culture.
Consequences of Ignoring Burnout
Failing to address burnout issues will inevitably lead to higher staff turnover, incurring associated costs such as recruitment, hiring, and training, along with an interruption in productivity as the organization seeks replacements for departing employees. Prioritizing the resolution of burnout-related challenges is crucial to maintaining a healthy and sustainable work environment.
Takeaway
Mental health in the workplace is a serious topic and is likely to be either impacting your organization now or at some point soon. Becoming aware of the long-lasting negative effects of unaddressed mental health issues is the first step. Know the signs of mental health issues in the workplace, and consider creating or updating your mental health policies. Most importantly, encourage employees to have open, honest conversations to solve problems before they become insurmountable.
Additional Resources:
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Government of Canada’s Resources for Mental Health in the Workplace
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Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Healthy Minds at Work
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Published on
Jan 25, 2024
