Mental Health Strategies in The Workplace

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According to a World Health Organization scientific brief, the global prevalence of anxiety and sadness increased by 25% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, 21% of individuals in the United States (52.9 million people) are dealing from mental illness. This equates to one in every five adults. In most countries, the situation would be identical.

Because of the severity of these issues, which frequently goes undetected, there is a lack of reliable information about workplace mental health. Some workers prefer to suffer in quiet rather than asking for assistance from their bosses or co-workers because they believe that doing so might harm their career chances.

Since supporting employee mental health has such a significant impact on both worker and organisational performance, it is becoming a higher priority for many businesses. But much like other wellness-related topics, workplace mental health is a complicated subject, so choosing the correct approach is important.

Employees who are unhappy or under stress perform worse and are more likely to experience burnout. They might also put the public and other workers’ safety in danger. Therefore, mental health issues including stress, anxiety, and depression are significant workplace concerns. Since it has a direct impact on both the wellbeing of their clients and the lives of their employees, employers should pay special attention to the mental health of their workforce. Employers should regularly inform their personnel on their mental health so that they can seek help if necessary.

Promoting mental health in the workplace policies is one way that employers may foster a healthy work environment. Some examples that can be implemented include:

  • Prohibition on safety hazards at work
  • Offer gyms that are open to employees during work hours for free exercise
  • Positive feedback strategies also help nurture mental health at work
  • Brainstorming sessions are frequently used in businesses, where staff members can exchange ideas and get encouragement from management.
  • Discipline at work and employee mental health are also supported by disciplinary actions; companies should act against poor behaviour rather than shield negligent workers from consequences.

References:

COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. (2022, March 2), from https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide

Meister, J. (2021, March 1). Top 5 components of a workplace mental health strategy. SearchHRSoftware from https://www.techtarget.com/searchhrsoftware/tip/Top-5-components-of-a-workplace-mental-health-strategy

Mental Health By the Numbers | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.) from https://www.nami.org/mhstats

Research, G. T. (2022, May 26). Mental health disorder rates in the workplace are soaring. Pharmaceutical Technology from https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/comment/mental-health-disorder-rates-workplace/


Dr Awam

Dr Awam

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