We know that theres a huge human cost related to mental health, but
figures from the review show the business case for addressing mental
health in the workplace, with proactive employers also reaping the
rewards of a more motivated, healthy workforce. Therefore, the more you
speculate, the more comfort you give your brain when you tell yourself
everything will be OK. After all, it means you can still do your
contracted hours; but also look after your mental wellbeing at the same
time. As a leader, you too may be struggling, and it is imperative that
you both look after yourself, and be open about the reality of the
situation for you. Often these are a reaction to a difficult life event,
for example moving house, bereavement, or problems at work. It is
important to remember that everyones experience with poor mental health
is different, so symptoms can vary from person to person.
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that, though it might sound obvious, we should consciously focus on what
you do want rather than what you dont want. Additionally, high efforts
and low rewards at work were found to be associated with the increased
risk of mental disorders. This means that workplace support needs to be
tailored to an individuals specific needs. I cant imagine well see any
changes to the support they offer anytime soon. Failure to do this would
inevitably result in a further increase in the incidence of mental
health in the workplace and this would ultimately put more pressure on
the public funds.
In the UK, all employees who have a
disability are protected by discrimination law. All this results not
only in unhappy employees but also inevitably, an increase in overall
sickness absence, which usually occurs in frequent short spells that
disrupt smooth workflow. Looking after managing and supporting mental health at work
can sometimes be quite difficult. Companies should be asking themselves
whether theyre promoting people because theyre good at what they do or
because theyve been trained to be good managers. As a manager, you will
be responsible for administering an absence. When deciding which space
to work from, look for an area that has natural light and is temperate,
has fresh air and minimal distractions.
However, in many
workplaces I believe there is a ticking time-bomb here that can get
overlooked if youre not careful. This means that people with mental
health problems are protected from discrimination and harassment and are
entitled to reasonable adjustments to adapt their job or work. But how
do they know? While there are no actual criteria for diagnosis, there
are a few tell-tale signs. Everyone should feel safe and supported to
talk about mental health in the workplace
with their line manager. Where a risk is identified, steps must be
taken to remove it or reduce it as far as reasonably practicable. Try
looking for volunteering opportunities in your area.
A mental
illness is a diagnosable condition that causes major changes in our
thinking, behaviour and physical and emotional feelings. Active
listening is a term for a range of techniques that keep us present and
engaged in a conversation. Thus far, social attention has focused
primarily on the impact of harsh working environments on people's human
rights, rather than their emotional wellbeing specifically. In fact,
everyone has mental health. A reaction to a difficult life event, such
as bereavement, can make mental health training for managers higher on the agenda. Research suggests that helping others is good for the helpers, as well as the helped.
Our mental health workshops and programmes have increased mental health
awareness and helped to influence a culture change in businesses
throughout the UK and beyond. Nothing communicates this better than
creating a balanced culture where people feel that they matter. Research
suggests that one in eight employees might suffer a mental health
episode each year. I was made to feel worthless & treated like
someone that was rubbish at his job. Some clients ran into problems when
their training and support needs were not met in the early stages of
their job, while others were helped to overcome their initial
apprehension with appropriate training and support. There are small,
simple steps you can take to make managing employees with mental health issues something that people can talk about.
We are committed to supporting employers to tackle mental ill-health in
the workplace and have produced a range of Toolkits for employers. So
how hard can this be for employers to achieve?The UK is currently in the
middle of an almost decade-long productivity slump. So, the first step
is to learn about mental health. Returning to the office wont
necessarily boost the mental health of all employees if there are
concerns about physical health. There is a strong relationship between
levels of staff wellbeing and motivation and performance and by taking a
positive, proactive approach to mental health at work we can help
employers invest in the mental wellbeing of their employees.
Make sure you've got enough medication if you take any. Recent reports have discovered a crisis around workplace mental health
today. Organizations can provide mental health training for managers so
they feel comfortable talking to employees about mental health
challenges. This includes things you can try indoors, if you're spending
lots of time at home. Employers can look out for their employees mental
health by encouraging participation in free and anonymous online
screenings. This should also include planning ahead to agree
arrangements in case you become unwell.
Maintaining good mental
health throughout this time may be difficult. On the same note, if any
employer promises support, they should follow through with it. Whether
you work with 10 people, 10000 people or just yourself, paying attention
to dealing with depression at work
has never been more important. If you have had low times in the past
you understand how hard it can be to get out of those places. Its like
knowing that theres a crack in your windshield. Its vital that managers
understand what support is available internally and externally and that
they feel confident signposting individuals to that support as early as
possible.
The costs of poor mental health come from a variety
of factors. As we know, safety professionals usually do not have an
authoritarian stance. Once employees take sickness absence for
depression and, potentially, lose contact with the workplace, it is much
more difficult to get them back to work. If you are a manager then employers duty of care
is a subject that you will be aware of. Try to keep a regular sleeping
pattern and follow good sleep practices. This information is for
educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
In all, the conceptual framework helps to provide a better
understanding of the potential role that government, societal entities,
and organizations can play in helping to deal with issues concerning
mental health. Raising awareness of potential mental health issues in
the workplace is part of fostering an inclusive workplace, where people
feel able to bring their whole selves to work. A person may have a hard
time concentrating, learning, and making decisions. Both your employees
and your budget will thank you. Discussing workplace wellbeing initiatives can be a good way to alleviate a difficult situation. Nothing worse than that!Instead, take things at your own pace.
Here are five things that you might not know about how mental health
appears at work and how greater awareness can help your organization.
The other key factor in the building up of resilience is purpose. We
cannot function properly without sleep. If you are not registered, you
can request an emergency or temporary location appointment if you need
medical assistance. What helps you now may not be the same as what helps
you in the future. You might not be talking about it, because mental health at work training is still a taboo subject.
In the first scenario, an employee may have a claim for personal
injury, as well as employment law claims. They'll also typically stop
eating for some time after a death. Increasingly, we are hearing from
employers that mental illness is one of the leading causes of disability
in their workplaces, and we know that it is one of the most expensive.
The usual advice to support our mental wellbeing often focuses on
getting out and about and socialising with friends or family but
obviously this is something none of us should be doing at the moment. If
you feel as if you can't cope and none of the above suggestions are
working for you please seek help from your GP for alternative options.
If you are feeling anxious, are feeling low in mood or concerned for
your emotional health, there are lots of things you can do to help you
cope. Talking about mental health first aid in the workplace
is a good step forward. It has ranged from them giving us feedback that
they always feel good after a chat with our Sanctus coach, from some of
the team saying that they have gotten more from a few sessions with
Sanctus than several years with other coaches. The phrase A problem
shared is a problem halved, is so much more than just words. Whenever it
happens, it can be an extremely difficult and challenging time.
Everyone has mental health and, like physical health, it fluctuates
along a spectrum.
Effective and empathic management is very
important when dealing with mental ill-health and employee wellbeing,
and steps should be put in place to actively monitor the organisations
mental health strategy. To help you prepare, we look at the ways using
your employee benefits can help support your team during difficult
times. The rate of employee absenteeism rises, more people call in sick,
the morale in the team is down, productivity levels take a hit and the
level of performance remains at a low. A second, related construct is
the level of supportive behaviour provided to employees and teams by
their supervisor or line manager. Doing an activity you enjoy probably
means youre good at it, and acieving something boosts your self-esteem.