Increase Mental Wellness in the Workplace: Strategies for Mental Health Awareness Month & Beyond
As May rushes by, it's crucial to remember that it's still Mental Health Awareness Month. Now is the time for organizations to reaffirm their dedication to employee well-being by placing a spotlight on mental wellness in the workplace.
With straightforward yet effective initiatives, you can cultivate a comprehensive wellness toolkit for your teams. This includes providing education, fostering opportunities for wellness practice, and nurturing peer support.
Read on for seven practical steps to destigmatize mental health and bolster employee well-being.
Seven Practical Steps to Cultivate Workplace Well-Being
Encourage employees to get outside. Studies have shown that time spent outdoors can help decrease anxiety levels, lower risk of depression, and improve concentration and attention. Encourage walk-and-talk meetings, host yard games at lunch, or create dedicated outdoor workspaces that employees can use for creative or collaborative work.
Cultivate kindness. Random acts of kindness not only benefit the receiver, but also the giver. Benefits include less depression, decreased pain (by generating endorphins), lowering stress hormone levels, reducing anxiety, and lowering blood pressure. Consider hanging a poster with ideas.
Organize a volunteering day. Volunteering is a great way to do something for others and has been shown to decrease stress levels, depression, anxiety and boost overall health and satisfaction with life.
Promote balance. Better work-life balance creates a happier workforce. Create opportunities for flexible work hours or working virtually, model healthy work boundaries (no emails after 5pm), and eliminate unnecessary meetings.
Remind employees of resources. Remind staff how they can access mental health care resources and support available through your health insurance plan and/or EAP program.
Offer on-site coaching. Hiring a mental health professional to provide on-site coaching can be a highly beneficial initiative for employees. Many people struggle with mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety, or depression, but may not have time outside of work or feel comfortable asking for time off to manage these concerns. By offering on-site coaching services, employees can receive the support and guidance they need in a safe environment.
Host a wellness workshop series. Mental health conditions are one of the largest cost drivers in the U.S. economy with more than 1 in 5 US adults living with a mental illness. While treatment for mental illness is 80% effective, only 33% seek support due to stigma. Hosting a wellness workshop series led by a trained professional within a structured and psychologically safe environment can help reduce the stigma around seeking mental health treatment, empower employees, build resilience, and promote a culture of wellness and support within the workplace.
Host a keynote speaker. As the end of May draws near, there's still ample opportunity to mark Mental Health Awareness Month with a powerful kickoff event. Consider inviting a keynote speaker to address your team on crucial aspects of mental health, ranging from stress management to burnout prevention and sustainable self-care practices. This proactive approach not only underscores your organization's dedication to supporting employee well-being but also fosters an environment for meaningful discussions about mental health among your team members.
