Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace
Whether you work with 5 people, or 5,000, paying attention to mental health in the workplace has never been more important. 1 in 6 workers in the UK admit to being affected by negative mental health at some-point during their career.
Mental health is a spectrum, so reacting quickly when you notice signs of an employee or colleague demonstrating behaviour which suggests they might be struggling with mild mental health issues is extremely important.
With the right support and compassion, people with mental health problems can continue performing their vital workplace roles. As a busy business owner, overlooking the signs of someone struggling with their mental health can occur more than most would like to admit. That’s why we have highlighted some simple and effective strategies for you to incorporate into your workplace, to ensure your employees feel that their mental health and wellbeing is important to you.
Work life balance
Encourage everyone to develop a rich, full life outside of the office. Without a healthy work/life balance, productivity is likely to decline, and employees are more likely to burn out. Ask employees to share their feelings with you and ensure they can switch off from the office after their workday is over. Giving them space to live a life outside of work with friends and family is important.
Self-care events
Providing in-house self-care events could save the company money in the long-term whilst also helping employees reach their greatest potential. Hiring a therapist to provide a stress management workshops a few times a year or arranging lunchtime yoga class could go a long way toward to encouraging employees to build healthier life habits.
A caring conversation
Don’t ignore a situation until it comes to a head and affects the whole team. If you believe an employee is experiencing poor mental health, take the lead. Arrange a meeting as soon as possible to talk to them in private. The conversation should be approached in a positive and supportive way. A caring, confidential conversation between a supervisor and an employee could be instrumental in encouraging an individual to seek help.
Exercise & a healthy diet
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can boost self-esteem, allow you to concentrate and sleep better. All of these factors contribute to your mental health, as they can affect how we feel both immediately and in the longer term. It’s important to encourage your staff to go for a walk in their lunch break and to also move away from their desk when eating, a change of scene or pace is good for mental health.
Need help?
At CoLaw, we believe everyone should feel safe and supported to talk about their mental health at work. That’s why we provide information and general advice on mental health related law and human rights and discrimination/equality. Contact us today for more information on our services and how we can help your business.
The information provided in all of our blogs reflects only a narrative of some elements to consider on the topic. The blogs do not contain considered legal advice and should not be relied upon as advice. Please see our website terms and conditions for full details of our disclaimer. If you are interested in obtaining advice, please contact one of our lawyers who will be happy and able to advise you on your own particular circumstances.
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