Leadership lessons: mental health matters
According to the charity Mind, one in four of us will experience a mental health issue. Here are some small, simple steps owners can take to make their business healthier, and create a workplace culture that supports mental well-being.
According to the latest Health and Safety Executive report, 37% of all work-related sickness is due to stress including anxiety and depression, and this costs UK employers some £3.7bn a year in absenteeism. And mental health discrimination charity Time To Change found that 95% of employees would prefer to call in sick with a fictional reason, than be truthful about mental health. There are sound business reasons for ensuring good well-being in the office, but how can business owners achieve positive mental health among its workforce?
“The first thing to ask is what does that good culture look like,” says Brigid Bowen, founder and curator of Compassionate Mental Health who shares that for him a good workplace culture is a place where people can bring their whole selves to work. To achieve this, she suggests organisations take these simple steps: “First, have spaces away from work where people can take breaks and connect with each other – not around a water cooler in the corridor, but somewhere comfortable with seating and newspapers.” Second, Bowen suggests making the kitchen an enjoyable place to be. Think about how it’s lit; does it have plants? “Encourage people to bring food into work. Being able to nourish yourself with good food and conversation is vital,” Bowen says.
Having created the physical environment, think about employer attitudes and support. “Mental health awareness isn’t just about knowing how to spot signs, or about recognising that a colleague is struggling and signposting them to support,” Bowen says. “It’s about knowing how to connect with our own feelings and connect to others.” The more aware you are of your own feelings, she says, the more you can own them. “While an inspirational culture is great, knowing that you’re free to share your thoughts and difficulties is much more important.”
Ensuring that people actually want to come into work is the first step. It sounds obvious, but “employees shouldn’t feel that they’re automated beings, in a room to operate purely for someone else. Introduce creativity into people’s work; make sure they enjoy the environment; ensure they interact with each other; and ensure they’re given opportunities to develop”. Give staff awareness training around mental health, Thomas says. “As there’s been a shift in the amount of information available, at the very least there can be signposting. And on a practical level, ensure that staff take the breaks they’re entitled to and that a culture of ‘work every hour’ doesn’t develop – this can be harmful to the person and the business over time.”
It’s also essential to offer emotional support. “It’s beneficial to our overall well-being to be in touch with our emotions, thoughts and feelings,” says Jenni Donno, owner of Bienestar, which aims to help individuals and companies become healthier and happier.
In conclusion, here are 5 simple steps to create a happy and productive work environment.
1. Create an empowering environment that encourages people to share feelings and concerns. “Happy employees make a happy company,” says Donno, “which is not only nicer for everyone involved but has proven to be more productive, with less time taken off with sickness and lower staff turnover.”
2. Make sure employees feel known by the company. “Regardless of status, ensure managers know their teams and care about them,” says Bowen. “You could, for example, have a Friday meeting where people can talk about their concerns; this pre-empts conflicts and problems.”
3. Make it sustainable. “Create ambassadors for mental health well-being, and extend this to a supportive culture,” says Thomas. “Keep up to date in terms of new training, online portals; whatever it would be. And create well-being champions.” Ensure you offer counselling if things have become serious, and offer time off to recover.
4. Move on from stigma. “We have to get past the oft-quoted statistic that one in four of us will experience mental health problems,” says Bowen. “The truth is that all of us will suffer bereavement and loss, for example.” Our current working culture stigmatises mental health into an ‘us and them’ scenario, “which just isn’t right. We all need mental health support at some point in our lives.”
5. Ensure social connections at work. “There are negative consequences associated with loneliness in the workplace,” says Donno. “To avoid this, arrange team outings and activities; host work celebrations; and promote wellness challenges.”
Source: NatWest Business Hub https://natwestbusinesshub.com/content/leadership-lessons-mental-health-matters