Mental illness impacts one in five Australians each year.
The issue of mental health has been a hot topic in recent years, with businesses finding increasing ways of tackling the subject among employees.
Within every business, there will be those who suffer in silence to the point that control is lost and the very act of getting out of bed becomes utterly overwhelming. Employees are still reluctant to share mental health information with their managers or bosses. The stigma associated with mental health, being treated unfairly, becoming the subject of office gossip or compromising their employment terms are all legitimate fears.
Here’s what employers can do:
1. Minimise the stigma
In HeadsUp’s report on workplace mental health, it was found that environments considered mentally unhealthy had employees who were less likely to seek help for a mental condition, were less likely to provide support to others, and were more likely to avoid disclosing any experiences of mental health in the workplace.
To combat this, employers need to take active steps to encourage conversations around these issues. As part of their workplace culture, they should aim to normalise discussions surrounding mental health – perhaps incorporating in business meetings.
Businesses should give employees access to education and resources from national organisations on mental illness and provide opportunities for managers to attend relevant training to support staff living with mental health problems and the well-being of all staff.
Lastly, employers should strive to continually educate themselves on the subject of mental health. The more we know about the topic and its driving factors, the better we’ll be at fostering a healthier, happier workplace.
2. Encourage work-life balance
Work-life balance is an essential aspect of a healthy work environment and employers should offer flexible work options. Employment flexibility can be offered in a variety of forms, most popularly through the option of remote work or through flexible working hours. You may even offer options for quieter, more private working spaces for some workers, or provide role opportunities for handling a variety of tasks.
A flexible job enables one to care for both their professional and personal needs, resulting in happier employees who feel free to juggle all areas of their lifestyle
3. Introduce mental health initiatives and policies
It is crucial to increase employee awareness of mental health at work, support employees at risk and take steps to support those suffering from mental health problems. Education is key, and strategies need to be tailor-made to suit each business and its needs. Aside from increasing workplace happiness with perks, time off and better communication, businesses need to look at long-term policies which advocate for better treatment for at-risk employees from every tier of the organisation.
Without proper mental health policies in place, your company is missing out on a huge opportunity. For example, do you have policies to help prevent discrimination (including bullying and harassment) or prevent stigma around depression in the workplace? If you already have some policies in place, review your current policies and see if they can better support employees.
4. Monitor employee engagement via coaching
Historically, tyrannical managers focused on ‘the numbers’ or ‘getting the job done’ have been the norm, but fortunately, the modern workplace has changed. Today, the manager who adopts a more holistic approach by focusing on the growth and development of their team, personally and professionally, will see greater results and engagement. Adopting in a coaching approach has shown clear improvements across all areas and improved trust between managers and employees. Getting this balance right enables employees to speak about their levels of stress, their worries about their role and more.
In the modern workplace, smart employers are placing workplace wellness at the core of their business by recognising the importance of their staff. Businesses who invest in the mental health of their people and foster open dialogue about mental health issues will also be creating a positive workplace and a place where people want to work. It’s a win-win.