A working adult’s life normally evolves around work. Imagine the time that you wake to prepare to go to work, the time spent traveling to work, the 8 hours spent at work sometimes even working overtime, and the time spent going home. All these activities revolving around work can take up to 14 hours of the day. Since working adults spend so much of their time in the workplace, it is crucial that their mental health is well taken care of.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of diseases (World Health Organization, 1946). It is from this definition that we can see that being healthy does not necessarily mean being physically fit, but also includes the mental and social well-being of the individual. In the same way, physical health is important to people it is the same way mental health and social well-being should be important to everyone.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his/her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his/her own community. Mental health is an important and integral part of health and without it, there is no health. Our ability as humans to think, feel, interact with one another, make a living, and enjoy life both individually and collectively depends on our mental health. On this premise, it is possible to see the promotion, preservation, and restoration of mental health as a crucial concern for people, communities, and societies all over the world.
Employee mental health needs to be a major priority for firms trying to hire high-performing workers in today’s society.
Why Mental Health in the workplace??
In a country such as Zimbabwe, where poverty is endemic with an estimated of 70% of the population living under the poverty line. Supporting mental health in the workplace shouldn’t be seen as “optional” any longer but a requisite. Employee performance and mental health go hand in hand. It is what helps the employee succeed because they work as two pieces of the same puzzle. On the other hand, a negative outcome may occur in the absence of adequate development or support for mental health.
According to a 2020 study by WHO, there is a severe lack of human resources for mental health, with only 18 psychiatrists, or about 0.1 per 100,000 people, in Zimbabwe. There are 6 psychologists and 917 psychiatric nurses (6.5 per 100,000 people) (0.04 per 100,000). With skilled professionals leaving the country or working in other fields of medicine, economic uncertainty has caused a significant brain drain. In this line, it can be evident that there are not many resources to tackle mental health illnesses/ disorders in Zimbabwe, therefore it is important to curb mental health in the workplace to avoid instances of institutionalization of people.
The global need for mental health care continues to be a challenge. Globally, the incidence of mental health/disorders is increasing, placing a burden on society that requires attention as the problem grows, the workload increases, cultures lack inclusivity, and access to essential mental health support is limited.
Presenteeism, or being sick at work but continuing to work but being less productive, is frequently caused by mental health issues. Presenteeism accounts for most of the costs associated with mental illness in the workplace (Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2007). This may be due to the lack of evident physical symptoms among those who have mental health issues, as well as their reluctance to ‘prove’ their illness due to the associated stigma.
Due to cognitive impairment induced by uncontrolled stress, mental health difficulties may also lead to significant incidents including misconduct, errors and omissions, and safety issues, including workplace violence. Stress-producing workplaces risk losing important talent, having significant staff turnover, and damaging their brand.
Mental health issues frequently result in fatigue, impaired concentration, attention, and memory (Scheid, 2005; Lerner et al., 2004; Mancoso, 1990). The side effects of medicine may exacerbate these issues.
There are a lot of reasons why emotional strain at work is a concern. Workplace mental health issues can lead to:
- Disengaged workers
- Communication problems
- Increase in turnover
- Safety risks
- Poor performance at work
- Low level of productivity
- Ineffective decision-making
- Reduced profits
The Early Signs of Poor Mental Health
People who experience mental health issues frequently lack the confidence to discuss them due to the stigma associated with them. Or, they can be uninformed that they have a mental health condition. Their mental health may deteriorate over time if they don’t receive the right treatment or access to a confidante. Bottom line: If you are aware of the early warning signs of mental illness, you can provide them with appropriate mental health care at an early stage.
Positive Effects of Mental Health at Work
Increased Productivity
People that are physically fit are typically healthier and more productive. With relation to mental health, the same is true. Your employees’ decision-making, thinking, confidence, and working relationships can all be improved by improving their mental health. Employees will also perceive management as being committed to their continued success both at work and in life.
Overall, this all results in higher productivity.
Decreases risks and costs.
Supporting mental wellness is a smart business move as well. By lowering absenteeism, presenteeism, disability claims, and lost productivity, investing in mental health work programs can result in cost savings. Additionally, it helps you follow workplace health and safety regulations to lessen your legal liability.
How to Promote Better Mental Health at Work
Offering resources to employees in need is an important part of fostering mental wellness. Additionally, it’s crucial to make therapeutic treatments and screening available to workers who are stressed or burned out.
Employers can also enhance mental well-being at work by implementing the following strategies:
1. Engagement/Communication
Engagement and open communication with your staff members can undoubtedly improve their mental health. In order to create a relationship where employees feel comfortable raising issues or concerns, team leaders, managers, and supervisors should continue to work to increase engagement levels.
The employees mental health may benefit from the engagement and open lines of contact with them.
2. Training
The topic of mental health is complicated. Managers and staff members might both gain from further training on mental health increasing awareness on the issue. It’s critical that managers are able to recognize mental health issues and deal with employee concerns. Additionally, businesses can hold seminars on stress management and train their supervisors to recognize the early signs of job stress and burnout.
3. Empowerment
According to Mayo Clinic empowerment studies, feeling powerless at work can result in stress and job burnout. Employers may empower employees and help them perform their jobs more successfully by providing them with more control over their schedules. However, the employees need to be educated first before empowering them, this is where training comes in handy.
4. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
An employee assistance program helps staff members with personal or professional issues that might be affecting their well-being or ability to perform well at work. Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are offered free of charge and can help with a wide range of problems, including marital difficulties, traumatic experiences, legal issues, wellness concerns, and other issues.
5. Establish a Relaxation Area
Employers must give employees the chance to relax, unwind, and decompress in designated quiet areas. It is the responsibility of leaders and managers to create a work environment in which taking breaks, using these areas, and feeling good about taking proper “me time” during the day is acceptable.
Final Thoughts…
It is very possible that someone in your workforce has been affected because one in five people will encounter a mental illness at some point in their lifetime. Employee productivity is the key to any business’ success, but problems with their mental health can affect their general wellbeing and productivity. By becoming knowledgeable about workplace mental health, you may take the first step in aiding your employees in overcoming those problems.
Reference:
SCMH (2007). Policy Paper 8: Mental Health at Work: Developing the Business Case. London: The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.
Kelin Zvomuya is a consultant at Human Capital Experts
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