Just a few years ago, telling your boss you needed a mental health day would have raised quite a few eyebrows and led to a barrage of questioning. Since then, things seem to have improved quite a bit. Businesses are much more aware of mental health and its impact on their bottom line. But if you look closely around you, you will notice that for a lot of companies, the mental well-being of employees is just limited to lip service. Apart from implementing some surface-level initiatives like “Fun Fridays”, yoga sessions or a pool table, they don’t seem to do much.  

But given how profoundly our workplace impacts our mental health and vice-versa, it’s high time we implement strategies that go beyond the surface level and have a real and tangible impact.  Here is why you need to address the mental health issues at work and how you can do it. 

The Real Picture of Workplace Mental Health in Australia 

According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing Report 2022, 42.9% of people between the ages of 16 and 85 have experienced a mental health issue at some point in their life. With almost half of our country suffering from mental health problems, you simply can’t afford to remain passive about the issue at hand.  

However, as a business owner, you might think this doesn’t affect me personally, why should I care? How does the mental health of my employees impact my bottom line? If these questions crossed your mind, here are the answers: 

  • The same study claims that 21% of Australian employees take time off work due to stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, causing an absenteeism problem. 
  • Employees working in a mentally unhealthy workplace are twice as likely to take time off work due to mental health issues. 
  • People in an unsupportive workplace can resort to presenteeism as well. It is when an employee is physically present at the workplace but their productivity is lowered due to an illness or injury.  

These statistics prove that mental health issues aren’t just impacting your employees’ health but your business too. A workplace that doesn’t foster mental wellness leads to lower productivity, lower employee morale, higher employee turnover, higher absenteeism or presenteeism and ultimately lower profit. 

What Can You Do? Actionable Strategies To Promote Mental Wellness at Your Workplace 

Asking employees to dress casually on Fridays, having team dinners or giving free fruit are all great initiatives. But as I said earlier, such initiatives are pretty surface-level because they don’t address the real issues. To make a real change, you should: 

  • Be Proactive: Identify potential work stressors and try to address them before they cause a catastrophe. 
  • Holistic: Implement strategies that address all the aspects of an employee’s well-being including physical, mental, and emotional. 
  • Sustainable: Embed your mental health strategies in the company culture to ensure their long-term impact. 

Below are the strategies that can be implemented to promote mental wellness at work. 

Encourage Open Communication 

Having a safe and supportive workplace where employees can comfortably talk about their mental health challenges is one of the most crucial parts. It can include: 

  1. Leadership buy-in: To foster a culture of mental wellness, leaders and managers should lead by example. They should be open about their own mental health challenges, demonstrate vulnerability and promote a culture where talking about mental health is considered normal. When leaders prioritise mental health, employees are more likely to perceive their workplace as mentally healthy. 
  1. Regular check-ins: Studies show that regular supervisor support can reduce psychological distress in employees. Having frequent one-on-one meetings with employees can make employees feel seen and heard. This can improve employee morale and create a mentally healthy work environment. 
  1. Always Listen: Allow employees opportunities to provide honest feedback without fear of repercussion. Anonymous surveys, suggestion boxes, etc. can help them openly voice their concerns. And, it can help you identify potential workplace stressors. 

Prioritise a Healthy Work-Life Balance 

These days, work-life balance has become a buzzword. Everyone is throwing the term around but very few people actually have it. To ensure everyone, from a floor worker to the CEO, can enjoy a healthy work-life balance, you should: 

  1. Offer Flexibility: It shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that flexible work arrangements improve work-life balance and reduce stress levels in employees. To ensure your employees manage their home and work life better, offer options like remote work, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks.  
  1. Promote Healthy Boundaries: Create an environment where people are allowed to set their boundaries. For example, you should encourage your employees to disconnect from work during non-work hours. You can also encourage them to engage in social activities and hobbies outside of work so that they don’t feel lonely. Platforms like The Bunch Up can help them connect with people who share their passions and interests. 
  1. Provide Generous Leave Policies: Ensure your employees aren’t overworked, and give them adequate time off for rest, relaxation, and personal commitments. Taking time off should be simple and convenient. It shouldn’t attract any retributions. 

Create a Better Work Culture 

An employee spends a better part of their day in the office and the work culture deeply impacts their mental health. To promote employee mental wellbeing, you should: 

  1. Foster a Culture of Respect and Inclusivity: Ensure that every employee feels valued and respected in your workplace, regardless of their background. 
  1. Promote Inter-personal Relations: Encourage employees to collaborate and foster friendships. This creates a sense of belonging and support among colleagues.  
  1. Create a Healthy Workspace: Ensure the workplace is well-lit, and ventilated. Provide comfortable workspaces to promote physical and mental well-being. 

Provide Mental Health Resources and Training 

You should ensure that your employees always have the necessary resources and tools available. This can include. 

  1. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Hire a professional counsellor and offer confidential counselling and support services for employees and their families. Such EAPs or Employee Assistance Programs can lead to improved employee wellbeing and reduced absenteeism.  
  1. Mental Health Training: Create awareness about mental health challenges and disorders by organising workshops and training sessions. Encourage employees to learn about stress management, resilience building, and recognising mental health warning signs. 
  1. Access to Online Resources: Create an online library of articles, videos, and apps related to mental health and wellness to provide employees with easy access to the information and support, they need. 

Promote Physical Well-being 

Physical and mental health are interrelated. Taking care of one’s physical health also promotes mental wellness. Take care of your employees’ physical health by: 

  1. Offering Wellness Programs: Provide access to gym memberships, fitness classes, and health screenings to encourage employees to take care of their health. 
  1. Encouraging Healthy Eating: Provide nutritious and hygienic food options in the workplace and promote healthy eating habits. This helps improve employee energy levels and overall well-being. 
  1. Creating an Ergonomic Workspace: To improve employee productivity, try to reduce any physical strain and discomfort by ensuring they have comfortable workstations and equipment. 

Recognise and Reward Employees 

The need for recognition is one of our basic needs as a human being. Everyone likes to feel valued and appreciated. Having a workplace where your efforts are recognised and rewarded can significantly improve one’s mental health. 

  1. Provide Regular Feedback: Acknowledge your employees’ contributions and achievements. Offer praise as well as constructive criticism, wherever necessary. This can boost confidence and motivate them to work harder.  
  1. Offer Opportunities for Growth and Development: Support your employees in their career aspirations and provide appropriate training and development opportunities. This fosters a sense of purpose and engagement and improves productivity. 
  1. Celebrating Successes: Organise team events or activities to celebrate milestones and achievements to create a positive and supportive work environment. 

Measuring Impact and Making Adjustments 

You can’t implement all these strategies today and forget about them tomorrow. Creating a mentally healthy and responsible work environment is a continuous process. You need to keep an eye on all your initiatives and frequently assess their effectiveness. Make changes, whenever necessary. You can measure the impact of your mental wellness initiative with: 

  1. Employee Surveys: Gather feedback on employee well-being and satisfaction to provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of current strategies. 
  1. Analyse Key Metrics: Track data like absenteeism rates, productivity levels, and employee turnover to identify areas for improvement. 
  1. Conduct Focus Groups: Engage with employees directly to understand their needs and concerns. 

Bottom Line 

Promoting mental wellness in your workplace isn’t just your ethical responsibility; it’s also a smart business strategy. As an employer, it is your responsibility to create a supportive and thriving environment where employees feel valued, engaged, and empowered to prioritise their mental health and wellness.  Remember that investing in employee well-being is an investment in your own future.