Mental Health Awareness Week | How Employers Can Support Good Mental Health in the Workplace

This week sees people coming together to raise awareness and breakdown any stigmas surrounding mental health challenges. In recent years, there's been a growing movement to raise awareness about mental health, aiming to encourage open conversations and understanding. 

Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological and social well-being. Mental health can impact and affect how a person thinks, feels and acts along with influencing a person's ability to handle stress and make decisions. One of the biggest challenges in mental health is the stigma associated with it. Statistics have shown many people suffering with their mental health are hesitant to seek help for fear of judgement and/or misunderstanding. Periods of time that look to increase the focus on mental health awareness have been created to offer a more open, supportive and understanding environment where individuals feel safer to speak up and seek help. 

Awareness of mental health encourages those suffering or bystanders to recognise the signs and common symptoms. Often individuals experiencing mental health struggles display prolonged sadness, excessive worry, changes in sleeping patterns or appetite, difficulty with concentration, irritability, mood swings, fatigue and thoughts of self-harm.

Spreading mental health awareness is a vital step towards creating a supportive and understanding community. Employers play a crucial role in supporting mental health awareness in the workplace. 

Here's our top tips:

• Create a supportive environment with open communications that encourage employees to talk openly without fear of stigma or reprisal. 
• Provide 'safe spaces' which are specific areas employees feel they can take time out to relax and take breaks when feeling overwhelmed. 
• Implement programmes that promote physical and mental well-being, such as yoga, meditation and fitness classes.
• Implement mental health policies and mental health first aiders.  Policies may include allowing employees flexible working patterns, paid time off for mental health days to allow employees to recharge. 
• Create a workspace that supports mental health, with natural light, plants, and comfortable seating.
• Encourage and advocate for positive work-life balance, the need to take regular breaks fostering a supportive culture that values work-life balance and positive well-being.
• Raise awareness through workshops and seminars on mental health topics along with joining campaigns to promote mental health awareness.
• Provide access to mental health services such as health insurance plans which cover mental health services combined with offering on-site mental health professionals or access to virtual counselling.
• Promote regular check-ins through one-to-one meetings with employees to discuss their well-being and any concerns. Encourage employee feedback using surveys to gauge employee mental health and gather feedback on workplace practices.
• Train and advocate supportive leadership.  Leaders should model healthy behaviours by showing empathy and understanding towards employees facing mental health challenges.

To download the above tips please see here and scroll to the Related Downloads section of the page.

By implementing these strategies, employers can create a workplace that prioritises mental health, supports employees and fosters a positive and productive environment.

If you would like to discuss any of the above with our Employment Team please contact them on 0800 542 4245