One in five people globally will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. In the workplace, mental health is often seen as a taboo topic. This needs to change. Managers play a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive environment for employees with mental health conditions. By educating themselves on the signs and symptoms of mental illness, they can provide the necessary support to employees who are struggling.
There are a number of ways in which managers can help employees with mental health conditions. Here are 5 of them:
1. Creating a safe and supportive work environment
Creating a work environment where people feel safe talking about mental health issues and are assured of receiving support is crucial. This goes a long way in creating an organization where employees feel safe, supported and valued.
2. Promoting positive mental health and wellness practices
Positive mental health and well-being are essential for a healthy and productive workforce. It is the responsibility of management to encourage and facilitate the promotion of positive mental health and well-being practices among employees. This can be done by implementing mental health policies and initiatives, encouraging employees to take breaks and practice self-care etc.
3. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental illness
Managers should be aware of the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses. There are many different mental illnesses, and it is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms, some of which are irritability or pronounced mood swings, frequent difficulty sleeping—too much or too little, little interest or motivation to engage in activities, excessive worry and fearfulness. If your employees are showing any of these symptoms, then as a manager, it is important to recognize this and provide the necessary support. Attentive, open communication is the key to helping employees manage their mental health.
4. Connecting employees with resources and support
Once managers recognize the symptoms of mental illness in their employees, the next step should be connecting them with the right resources and gaining the right amount of support to help them manage their mental health. If the organizations do not have in-house Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) or counselling service plans for employees and their families, Mental Health Support Groups (MHSGs) or wellness centers can be suggested.
5. Monitoring and evaluating the workplace environment
Monitoring and evaluating the workplace environment can be crucial for managing employee mental health. Mental illnesses can be triggered by stress or caused by workloads. Managers have to monitor the workplace environment and ensure they provide a healthy environment for their employees. Some ways to ensure this are analyzing the amount of work being assigned to employees, making sure that employees have access to safe working conditions and a healthy physical environment, providing employees with feedback about their work and performance, developing a workplace wellness plan that focuses on physical and mental health initiatives.
Implementing these initiatives in your organization will ensure the well-being of the employees and in turn benefit the organization. If you are looking for
people management consultants in Dubai to help with people management issues, reach out to us today.
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