Shocking research by GRiD highlighted that less than a fifth of companies are taking steps to manage employee mental health issues. An audience poll taken during a HR Magazine webinar has also revealed that 83% of HR professionals believe mental health pressures on employees and rates of mental ill health among the workforce are higher than ever before. We need more conversations around mental health in the workplace so that the stigma is erased.
1. Have Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace
Mental Health First Aid was recently debated in Parliament to make it a legal requirement, all thanks to a long campaign called ‘Where’s Your Head At?’. After a two-hour debate, the majority view from MPs agreed that legislation should protect mental and physical health. It is a positive sign for mental health first aid as it is now in Parliaments agenda to take forward over the course of the year.
However, mental health remains a growing concern and one in four of us are likely to experience a mental health problem each year. Mental health first aid is likely to become a legal requirement. Therefore, companies should start having some staff trained in it. A mental health first aider is the mental health equivalent of physical first aid. So, why not arm employees with the skills and confidence to recognise and support anyone dealing with mental stress. Mental health first aid provides information on how to guide those experiencing problems towards seeking appropriate professional help.
2. Provide your employees with MyMindPal
Three out of five employees experience mental health issues due to work or where work was a related factor. Managers are just as likely as non-managers to be diagnosed with a mental health condition. Therefore, workplaces need the tools to become more resilient and change their mindset with happiness levels.
MyMindPal is a powerful new platform that brings together some of the newest and best thinking in behaviour change. Helping to get your team happy and stay happy. Best of all, it only takes five minutes a day. It builds resilient teams who need to feel less stressed and have better working days. MyMindPal is a digital platform that employs cognitive interventions and mindfulness practices to positively shift the way people think and behave.
3. Offer Stress and Resilience Training to employees and line managers
595,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2017/2018. In the past year, 74% of people have felt so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope.
Empower employees to deal with stress, change and mental health issues in the workplace with Stress and Resilience Training. Topic modules for managers include mental health, pressure and performance, stress in the workplace, managing change, and developing resilient teams. Stress and Resilience training is also available for non-managers. The subjects covered include mental health, dealing with high pressure situations, resilience, work-life balance, and mindfulness.
