FINAL WORD
It increases confidence in dealing with mental illnesses
Small workplace changes to support employees
Shamira Graham , Director of Clinical and Business Operations and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist at Onebright
From a survey we conducted in 2021 , we found that 39 % of employees aged between 18 and 29 are most likely to leave their job and move to an employer that provides better mental health support . If managers can have confident conversations about mental health without feeling like they may overstep their boundaries , they can reduce the risk of presenteeism , absenteeism and staff turnover . Finding that line between offering support and offering solutions can be more straightforward with training .
It reduces stigma around mental health issues
Someone with poor mental health may not realise it , making it harder for managers to address . Even if they do realise , they have an issue with their mental health , they may be reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care . For an employee experiencing a mental health issue , your organisation ’ s informed and supportive response is likely to lead to a much more beneficial outcome .
Talent attraction and talent retention
Employees now cite mental health and well-being strategy and a positive people proposition as a top priority when choosing an organisation to work for . Prospective employees value organisations that have a cohesive programme for mental health training and place the health and well-being at the centre of their organisation .
Sometimes it ’ s the small things that make the greatest difference . Here are some ideas for how you can implement small workplace changes to support employees and promote good mental health .
• Add well-being check-ins as standard agenda items for team meetings .
• Create a well-being page on intranet / shared digital space .
• Outline the commitment to a healthy organisation as part of the onboarding and induction process .
• Ensure that all employees are aware of the support services available to them and how and when to access them ( this can be NHS services ).
• Create a well-being ambassador network .
• Host internal team / company events to align Mental Health Days , such as Time to Talk day , Suicide Awareness Day , Mental Health Awareness Week etc .
• Explore whether individuals are comfortable sharing their experiences of mental health problems – this can have a huge impact on normalising mental health and destigmatising .
Mental Health Champion
Enrol one person ( or multiple people if you have a big team ) to become your Mental Health Champion . All businesses have first aiders who you can go to in case of a physical medical issue , but many don ’ t have a Mental Health Champion who people can talk to and confide in .
By providing peer-to-peer network support within your organisation , you are creating an environment in which the individual may feel more comfortable discussing any issues they may be having at work .
Why do managers need mental health training ?
Training helps everyone from employers to executive leaders learn the tools for providing a mentally fit workplace that is good for business .
There is an opportunity to learn about early identification principles , bolstered with CBT evidence-based interventions to support employees . This will help to remove taboos surrounding mental health , vital to early detection and future-proofing employee mental well-being . x
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