Intelligent CXO Issue 18 | Page 67

BUSINESS INSIGHTS important that business leaders learn to engage in conversations around mental health and offer the targeted support that employees need to be happy and productive in their roles .
Results from a recent poll in the Healthier Nation Index found that 66 % of people would not share their mental health struggles with their employer .
It also found that despite 37 % of respondents saying their mental health had worsened over the last year , a third were not offered any mental health support or emotional well-being resources in the workplace .
For this reason , it is important that we all learn to not only recognise but overcome the barriers that may prevent people from opening up about any mental health struggles they may be facing .
There are many factors that can cause an employee to not open and talk about their mental health struggles in the workplace .
These include some common beliefs and societal perceptions , such as :
• That if they do , their decision making will be questioned .
• Fear that they will be judged if they need to take time off to overcome a mental health struggle .
• Colleagues will have to pick up the extra workload to support them , which will cause resentment .
• Colleagues may treat you differently and worry about saying the wrong thing or be afraid of causing offence . www . intelligentcxo . com
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