Mental health is an important part of life. We all experience mental illness at some point, and for many people, it can be a lifelong journey. The stigma surrounding mental health is slowly being reduced, with the help of celebrities who are brave enough to speak out about their own experiences. But how do we make sure that our workplaces are safe spaces for those who need support?
What is mental health?
Mental health is the state of being mentally well. It’s an important part of your overall health, and you can have good mental health even if you have a mental illness.
Mental illnesses are serious problems that affect how a person thinks, feels, behaves and relates to others. But many people who experience these problems get help and recover from them—and many do not need professional care.
The most common mental health problems include depression, anxiety disorders (including phobias), bipolar disorder (also called manic depression), schizophrenia and eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Mental health problems can also be caused by:
- Traumatic experiences such as childhood abuse or neglect; violence; sexual assault; accidents or disasters; witnessing violence in the family, school or community
- A medical condition such as cancer or AIDS/HIV infection
Mental Health and the workplace – a history of stigma and discrimination
Mental health and the workplace have a long history of stigma. Mental illness was often thought to be a punishment from God, and those suffering from it were seen as weak or lazy. It wasn’t until the 1960s that mental health was recognized as an issue that could affect anyone, not just those with specific personality traits or backgrounds.
Even today, people with mental illnesses face discrimination in many aspects of their lives—including job applications and interviews. Even if they are hired on, employees with mental health issues may face difficulty getting promoted or receiving raises because they don’t fit into certain stereotypes about how an employee should behave at work (for example: being “in touch with their emotions”).
Discrimination can be subtle and hard to prove—especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for! And even if it does become apparent that your employer has discriminated against you because of your mental health status, dealing with this situation can be difficult because it involves sensitive personal information about yourself as well as other employees at your workplace potentially feeling uncomfortable discussing this topic openly amongst themselves (or perhaps even within earshot).
How to improve your workplace’s mental health
- Encourage a culture of openness.
- Offer training to help employees recognize signs of stress, depression and other mental health issues in themselves and others.
- Make it clear that taking time off is okay. Don’t pressure people to come into the office when they’re not ready to be there.
- Provide access to mental health services if you don’t already have them onsite (or make sure employees know where they can seek out these services).
References
It is important to note that the following references are of an academic nature and therefore do not reflect the views, opinions, or thoughts of [insert your company name].
- [reference 1]: https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/work-stress.aspx
- [reference 2]: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/11/workplace-health-wellness.aspx
Takeaway:
If you’ve ever had a personal experience in which mental health has been a factor, you know how important it is. Whether it’s professional or personal, mental health is something that should be taken seriously and treated as such.
The importance of mental health in the workplace is clear: it directly impacts employee productivity and satisfaction, which leads to higher engagement levels and lower turnover rates. If you want your organization to thrive and flourish, then it’s vital that you get on board with promoting positive mental health at work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can see that mental health is important for everyone. In order to improve your workplace’s mental health you should start by educating yourself about what it means and how it affects people. You also need to make sure that your company has a good culture where employees feel safe sharing their feelings with others who will listen without judgement and respond appropriately
