Mental Health At Workplace: How to manage mental health at work? 

There was a time when mental health in itself was a very hush-hush issue. But, with changing times, we are not only discussing mental health, but also how to make it better in all aspects of human life. There is no doubt that our mental health affects our work productivity and at the same time when the boundaries between work life and personal life are blurred, it becomes very crucial to create an impactful healthy environment for both employers and employees so that they can work as valuable assets for the company. Mental health at workplace has become an important issue that needs to be tackled for the benefit of all.    

Employee Mental Health   

Employee mental health is one of the most crucial aspects of a company’s productivity. At the same time, employee mental health also influences the psychological and emotional well-being of the person and impacts their decisions during and beyond work. The impact on employee mental health can be understood in two ways-  

1. If the employee is already suffering from any mental illness, the issue can be exacerbated due to an unsupportive office environment. This will not only impact their work, but also their life outside of work.  
2. Poor work conditions, dissatisfaction at work, hostile office environment can contribute to the employee developing a mental illness. 

Mental Health and Work   

Cultivating a conducive work environment at the workplace that nurtures employees’ mental health is paramount in fostering a thriving, innovative workforce. Employers and authorities must work together to ensure a safe and healthy environment that prioritizes destigmatizing mental health and offers support to those who need it.  

Mental health issues caused by workplace 

For a working professional, more than 50% of their day goes in travelling to work, working or doing and thinking about work. When work plays such an important part of one’s life, it is bound to have a huge impact on their mental health.  

• According to a WHO report, 15% of working-age adults experienced a mental disorder. 
• Bullying and psychological violence (known as mobbing) is a key complaint of workplace harassment that causes a negative impact on mental health. 
• Long, inflexible hours and lack of breaks leading to workload is a major reason of mental health issues at workplace. 
• Lack of work-life balance also impacts our motivation to work. With the increase of work from home during and after the pandemic, there is no clear distinction between work and personal time and this is a cause for major trouble for working professionals and their family as well. 
• Lack of support, training, resources, poor management, and lack of communication, no liberty and zero decision-making power are other issues that impact mental health of the employee. 

Here are a few mental health issues caused by workplace- 

1. Stress- this is one of the most common impact of work on our mental health and can be a result of excessive work load and pressure. Chronic stress impacts our physical health and become a cause for stress headaches, heart issues, high blood pressure and more.
2. Burnout- It is a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that leads to low energy, exhaustion, depersonalization, cynicism and reduced productivity.
3. Workplace loneliness- feeling a lack of community or lack of social relationship at workplace and disconnected from work and peers is a silent killer. With the increase of remote work culture, this has increase even more and pushes people to a darker mental health state.
4. Depression- According to WHO, depression can lead to physical and mental health problems and loss of $1 billion to the economy per year in lost productivity. A high workload, poor communication, toxic workplace can all lead to depression. It is important to seek correct guidance when you are depressed so that your work is not impacted.
5. Anxiety- Anxiety at workplace can be triggered due to multiple reasons and if you are an anxious person in general, it becomes even more important to tackle anxiety at workplace. Breaking down the tasks, planning ahead, taking care of yourself are a few ways to manage anxiety at work.

Mental Health Affecting Work 

When it comes to the larger picture of the effects of mental health on our work it is essential to realize that our mental health getting deteriorated daily significantly leads to anxiety and increased stress levels. When it comes to the effect of mental health in our workplace it affects our productivity and also relations with fellow colleagues and management. 

The employees need to seek support whenever necessary to make themselves feel comfortable at the workplace and not to deteriorate their condition further. 

Mental health and workplace: How to promote mental health? 

Offering comprehensive mental health benefits, from counseling services to mindfulness programs, underscores a commitment to employees’ overall well-being.  

Acknowledging the intricate nuances of mental health within the workplace speak of good leadership, characterized by empathy and understanding.  

It is crucial to promote a healthy work environment and support people throughout their work journey so they can achieve remarkable heights and thrive in work at the same time in a healthy way.   

What can you do as an employer? 

• As an employer, the organization can emphasize the policy implementation regarding mental health days and the healthy communication policies which can help them to deal with their issues effectively.
• Every workplace should have a therapist on board that will allow employees to discuss their issues with them. 
• The cost of therapy and treatment for any mental health issue should be shared by the office. 
• There can be an effort made to create a safe and supportive work culture that can enable them to discuss their thoughts freely and reduce their prejudices associated with mental health issues at the workplace.
• At the same time understanding each problem and dealing with it with a positive outlook can make the organization work in a better framework, by allowing the policies related to working from home or initiating the idea of flexible working hours can make them feel relaxed even during their working hours and can help them reduce unnecessary stress.
• The organization can organize mental health camps to ensure the well-being of their employees and can also initiate some other activities to ensure that there is healthy communication.
• The organization can also avoid the culture of presenteeism and understand the skills that a person has and can try to ensure that the employees are not under pressure so that they can work stress-free and at the same time deliver better output.

What can you do as an employee? 

• Openly discuss your needs regarding your mental health with your workplace. Speak to your supervisor or an HR representative about the potential of taking a mental health day if you feel overburdened, anxious, or unable to cope.
• Plan your mental health as far ahead as possible to prevent any disruptions at work. Give your employer as much warning as you can, and make sure to take care of or delegate any pressing obligations. Use your days off for mental health to concentrate on self-care activities. Take part in relaxing and revitalizing activities, such as reading, spending time outside, working out, or engaging in hobbies.
• If you frequently feel overwhelmed, you might want to talk to a mental health professional. They can offer coping mechanisms and encouragement that could lessen stress.
• Remind yourself that work is not life and just a part of life. Hence, take breaks when needed and allow yourself to create distance from work. 
• Remember that while taking time off for mental health is a great way to preserve your well-being, it works best with proactive self-care techniques and a supportive work environment.

Choose to prioritise your mental health at workplace with NABHS

 At NABHS, we provide you with resources as well as guidance to get you in touch with mental health care professionals who will help you manage stress, anxiety and depression at workplace. Our experts understand the importance of work-life balance and will support you in striking a balance between the two so that your mental health is better.