How can Employers Offer Better Mental Health Resources

Do you call your workplace your second home? Your workplace is where you spend roughly one-third of your life, on average, meaning you considerably spend more time at work than at home. A workplace that supports your health and well-being uplifts you personally and professionally.

If you are an employer, manager or supervisor you can inculcate many aspects in your workplace that support your workers’ mental health. This article explores employer mental health strategies that can be employed to address prevention and support, increase accessibility and reduce stigma around mental health while being cost-effective.

Why Employer Mental Health Strategies Matter?

 A workplace that is mentally healthy increases productivity, engagement, employee satisfaction and reduces rising stress levels and absenteeism, which boils down to inclusive and proactive employer mental health strategies.

81% of workers in a survey said they will look for workplaces that support mental health.

Wouldn’t you?

Maximizing Workplace Mental Health Resources Using Cost-Effective Mental Health Programs for Employers

 There are many ways to support employee mental health on a budget by using resources available at your disposal. Ensure your employees actually know about them and encourage them to use it.

• Create a mental health portal or section where resources are easy to find, including informative articles or blogs, tips on stress management, toll-free mental health helplines, mental health professionals or therapists available at subsidized rates
• Offer talks or webinars with mental health professionals to normalize conversations surrounding employee mental health and reduce stigma
• Train managers to recognize signs of distress, burnout and refer employees to help
• Create a peer support group for the employees to discuss their issues
• Introducing mental health days in the leave policy for the employees
• Promote use of subsidized mindfulness, mental health apps like Headspace, Calm, Clarify or Fabulous
• Partner with local therapists around you for discounted rates for the employees
• Encouraging team managers to offer self-care tips during meetings

These are some effective mental health policies and initiatives that support mental health in the workplace.

Workplace Mental Health Initiatives that Enhance Employee Mental Well-being

 Wouldn’t mental health initiatives be better if they were effective in enhancing employee mental well-being? Some such initiatives are Google’s blue dot program that offers peer to peer emotional support or, Starbuck’s mental health training for all store managers.

For any workplace mental health initiative to be effective, it has to be regularly reviewed with feedback from the employees to analyze whether it is working for your employees or not. Moreover, it has to range from small steps like encouraging paid time off, and regular breaks in the workday to big steps like embedding mental health days into the leave policy, which are innovative mental health solutions for employers.

Innovative Mental Health Solutions for Employers

 Many workplaces are hybrid and many roles are remote. Thinking of innovative solutions that enhance employee mental well-being that can be applied in home as well as in office is essential in this digital age.

• Virtual art therapy, meditation, or journaling sessions
• Mental health and self-care challenges within teams or departments, such as step counts, sleep trackers, daily meditation streaks on apps
• Make mental health services accessible for employees and their families on subsidized rates through EAPs or Employee Assistance Programs
• Cover mental health in health insurance
• Integrating mental health in performance reviews
• Look into cultural aspects when providing mental health workshops and assistance

Improving Mental Health Benefits Utilization

 Mental health benefits in the workplace can become meaningless very fast if employees don’t know about them, how to access them or feel safe or encouraged to utilize them.

Highlight confidentiality and zero judgement to make mental health resources more accessible, ensure that they are affordable, accessible to all employees, and integrate mental health discussions intro performance review and goal setting to streamline access to care and mental health support in the workplace.

Effective Mental Health Policies for Businesses

 Policies have a big role to play in enhancing employee mental well-being, and as a part of workplace mental health initiatives, key elements when making or updating a policy to keep in mind are:

• Mental health days and clear definitions of stress or burnout leave and accommodations
• Anti-bullying, anti-racism, anti-harassment clauses to be explicitly mentioned
• Protections and anti-discrimination for individuals who have a mental health condition
• Regular policy review and check-in based on evolving workplace challenges

Investing in mental health initiatives and programs in the workplace isn’t a duty – it is a smart investment not only in the company, but also all of its employees as well as employers. You can start with small steps but remember to be consistent and listen to your employees when they raise a concern or issue. Caring for your team’s mental health helps them thrive over just merely survive.

At NABHS, we are empowering you with correct resources and information for you to take the next step towards mental wellness. With insights from experts and correct guidance, you can also make your workplace more mental health friendly.