World Health Day takes place this month, on April 7th, with a focus on promoting health for well-being, equity and sustainable development.
As part of this, it is critical we consider all aspects of our health and understand that mental health is as important as physical health. We must all make a conscious effort to prioritise their mental health in every facet of their lives – including at work.
Employer support is critical to creating a healthy, psychologically safe workforce, and while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to dispel the stigma attached to mental health conversations in the workplace. In fact, our recent research found that more than 7 in 10 UK employees have pushed through a mental health struggle to avoid taking time off work. And from those who have taken the time off for mental health reasons, more than half felt the need to use a different excuse.
These attempts to cover-up their issues highlights employees’ reluctance to discuss mental health openly, and demonstrates the work that needs to be done to normalise and support those who are struggling.
But what can employers do? Fostering open, safe communication with employees is key.
Our research has found that those who experience safe, open communication within their teams not only feel more strongly connected to their co-workers (by 32%), but they also feel a greater sense of belonging to their organisation (by 15%) and perceive that their organisation cares about their well-being (by 14%).
Instilling this approach within your organisation will help develop a work environment built on compassion and care that empowers the employee experience and fosters a sense of belonging for all staff.
But this is not enough on its own to protect worker well-being. Employers must also invest in offering professional support to their workforce where possible.
BetterUp data shows us that the demand is growing for coaching sessions based around well-being for UK members.
Employers can support their people through providing virtual mentoring sessions and personalised well-being plans, which help employees grow both personally and professionally by giving them the tools they need to thrive.
Professional coaching support also assists individuals in building the skills to better relate to others, their teams, and themselves, helping employees develop empathy for others’ personal experiences and challenges.
Our mental well-being can’t be an afterthought – it is vital. Left neglected, people with a mental health problem are more likely to be at risk of heart disease, stroke and chronic sleep problems.
Employers have a responsibility to their workers to demonstrate support. Creating a safe environment where conversations around mental health are heard and understood, and with access to professional services, will go a long way to building a better future for British workers and organisations alike.
By Erin Eatough, Manager of Behavioral Science and Lead Researcher, BetterUp
