Tags – Ways To Support Staff And Their Mental Health
Did you know…
1 in 6 members of staff are dealing with a mental health issue, such as stress, anxiety or depression.
Quite the surprise right?
It’s no secret that organisations perform better when their staff are healthy and motivated.
And, those organisations that are successful are able to offer support at the right time – addressing mental health can increase productivity by up to 12%.
Furthermore, if staff feel like they are valued and cared for, it’s more likely they will remain loyal and commit to your business in the long-term
In this post, we explain the top three effective ways how you can support staff and their mental health.#
1. Hold Regular Catch Ups
Now more than ever, staff need to be able to interact with managers to support their welfare and maintain high levels of productivity.
To begin with, it’s a good idea to create a positive culture whereby staff members feel comfortable speaking about any issues they may be faced with.
Furthermore, it’s important for managers to be approachable, and regular catch ups create an opportunity for conversations surrounding mental health to be a normal part of line management.
Lastly, these conversations must be kept confidential unless otherwise agreed with that particular member of staff.
2. Signpost Staff to Services
Mental health is a sensitive topic and staff may not always feel comfortable speaking about it with their managers.
And so, it’s essential to commit to developing an internal approach or service that staff members can turn to when they need it.
For example, you could have dedicated leaders who are responsible for implementing specific programmes.
And, you should encourage staff to proactively seek support from HR or occupational health services.
3. Consider Flexible Working Arrangements
It’s been found that staff who have more control over their working hours tend to have a better work-life balance, and thus improve mental health.
This was supported by a study that revealed 39% of workers who had flexible arrangements saw an improvement in mental health.
So, it could be worth considering flexible working arrangements for the benefit of your staff’s welfare.
Let’s say, a staff member was feeling particularly anxious for whatever reason and the pressure of arriving at work will add to that stress – but letting them choose the hours they work can help relieve this stress as well as increase productivity – which benefits the efficiency of the business overall.
Concluding Thoughts
For many of us, work is a huge part of our lives.
Which is why it’s so important to realise that a fulfilling job can be good for your mental well-being.
Because, a toxic work environment can be corrosive to our health and the organisation itself.
So, in an open and honest workplace, staff members can thrive – knowing that they can speak with management when their mental health is low.
Ultimately, good mental health and good management go hand in hand.
Get in touch today for more information.In the meantime, please check our HR Consultancy Birmingham service.