Do you feel valued at work? Does your boss or manager value your mental health and respect your boundaries? Do you need time off to care for your mental health? If so, do you feel supported or do you worry about getting in trouble or being ridiculed for demanding time to care for yourself mentally and emotionally?
Times are changing. Mental health is a hot topic, and the workplace is no exception. Since 2020, the way we do business has changed significantly. But are we really addressing the need for improved mental health wellness and understanding within businesses, or is that need seemingly fading away as we return to a more ‘normal’ daily life? Is it?
Last year, the American Psychological Association published a study examining the psychological well-being of workers. Below are just some of the interesting results.
- More than nine in 10 employees say working for an organization that values emotional and psychological well-being is very (57%) or somewhat (35%) important to them.
- More than nine in 10 employees say it is very (52%) or somewhat (40%) important to work for an organization that supports the mental health of its employees.
- 19 out of 20 people say it is very (61%) or somewhat (34%) important to work for an organization that respects boundaries between work and non-work time.
Fortunately, the study found that 77% of workers reported being very satisfied (35%) or somewhat satisfied (41%) with their employer’s support for their mental health. It became clear that there was. However, there is still a need for improvement.
Almost half of participants reported that they were worried that telling their employer about their mental health condition would have a negative impact on their workplace. Additionally, 77% of workers report experiencing work-related stress in the past month, and an astonishing 57% experience negative effects of work-related stress that can lead to burnout. I answered.
Continuing to review the data, it appears that many organizations feel they provide support to their employees regarding mental health. However, employees report feeling unheard, undervalued, and lacking overall resources at their disposal. Less than 45% of companies surveyed said their employer offers health insurance that covers mental health, and only 15% said their employer offers a mental health day. did.
Why are these numbers so low? Why are we always so focused on talking about the need for better mental health care in society, when we actually break down the stigma associated with mental health? Why aren’t we doing more and providing the resources that people need to help?
We spend a lot of time at work, away from our families, miss events, and try to make enough money to make ends meet, but at the end of the day, even if we burn out, it’s easy to replace. And in many cases, your employer will leave you to do the job while they hire your replacement.
As business owners, managers and supervisors, we need to promote improved access and support for all employees when it comes to mental health. Training should be provided to identify those who need assistance. We need to provide a better work-life balance and not try to force people to work outside of their allotted hours. We need to include a system where people can take time off when they feel overwhelmed or stressed, and if they don’t cause them to worry anymore they will be fired. Training, resources, and support must be provided and provided to all employees on an ongoing basis. When we value our employees, they produce better work, are happier overall, and tend to stay with our organization longer.
Simple ideas that can easily be incorporated into your work environment include extra breaks throughout the day, shorter work weeks, strict boundaries around work and home life balance, easily accessible mental health resources, and local resources. Training topics from experts include self-care topics such as: Fidget toys, diaries, etc. Ask your employees what they need to feel supported, heard, and recognized, and respond to those needs. The overall attitude of your employees and your company can be greatly affected.
If you are a boss or manager looking to incorporate ideas into your work environment, or would like to have an expert come in to help you learn how to better manage your employees’ mental health, contact Northern Lights Therapy Discuss your options. We want to work with you to support your employees so that this also permeates their community and family life.
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