MENTAL HEALTH IN WORKPLACE

Work is a major part of our lives. It is where we spend much of our time, where we get our income from and often where we make our friends. Having a successful and fulfilling job can be good for our mental health and general well-being.

We all have times when life gets on top of us – sometimes that's work-related, like deadlines or travel. Sometimes it's something else – our health, our relationships, or our circumstances. It's vital that we protect that value by addressing mental health at work for those with existing issues, for those at risk, and for the workforce as a whole. A toxic work environment can be corrosive to our mental health.

We believe in workplaces where everyone can thrive. We also believe in the role of employers, employees and businesses in creating thriving communities.

Good mental health at work and good management go hand in hand and there is strong evidence that workplaces with high levels of mental well being are more productive. Addressing well-being at work increases productivity by as much as 12%.

Following are some suggestions to boost mental health at workplace.

Looking after our mental health at work

We can all take steps to improve our own mental health, and build our resilience – our ability to cope with adversity. Self-care is a skill that needs to be practiced. It isn’t easy, especially if we feel anxious, depressed or low in self-esteem.

We have to look for one or two things we find hard. These can be our challenges. It may be so that these areas are the ones we neglect under stress – for example drinking too much, isolating ourselves or comfort eating, are all examples of ways we try and cope that are the opposite of what the evidence tells us works for our mental health.

Finally, we have to look for one or two areas that we could work on or try. These can be our goals. Our goals and challenges can be the same but it's sometimes kinder to ourselves to have some goals that we can meet more easily.

Keeping active

Regular exercise can boost our self-esteem and can help us concentrate, sleep, and look and feel better.

Exercising doesn’t just mean doing sport or going to the gym. Experts say that most people should do about 30 minutes’ exercise at least five days a week. So, we have to try to make some physical activities that we enjoy a part of your day.

We may have a physical job like construction or teaching. There we will notice if we are off sick because of injury or physical illness how quickly our mood starts to be affected by the change in activity level.

If we work in an office it can make a huge difference to get out for a walk or do a class at lunchtime, or to build in exercise before or after work to ease us into the day or create a space between work time and personal time.

Asking for help

None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things don’t go to plan.

Our employer may have an employee assistance program. These services are confidential and can be accessed free and without work finding out. We may also be able to access occupational health support through our line manager or HR service.

The first port of call in the health service is one’s GP. Over a third of visits to GPs are about mental health. Someone’s GP may suggest ways that they themselves or their family can help them, or they may refer you to a specialist or another part of the health service. Someone’s GP may be able to refer him/her to a counsellor.

Talking about our feelings

Talking about our feelings can help us maintain our mental health and deal with times when we feel troubled. Talking about our feelings isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s part of taking charge of our well-being and doing what we can to stay healthy.

It can be hard to talk about feelings at work. If we have colleagues we can talk to, or a manager who asks how we are at supervision sessions, it can really help.

Also, we need to Identify someone we feel comfortable with and who will be supportive. We may want to think about what we want to disclose, who to and when a good time and place to do this could be.

If we are open about how we feel at work, especially if one is a leader, it might encourage others to do the same.

If you don’t feel able to talk about feelings at work, make sure there’s someone you can discuss work pressures with – partners, friends and family can all be a sounding board.

Keeping in touch

Relationships are key to our mental health. Working in a supportive team is hugely important for our mental health at work.

We don’t always have a choice about who we work with, and if we don’t get on with managers, colleagues or clients, it can create tension. It may be that we need to practice more self-care at these times, but we may also need to address difficulties. There are more tips for doing that in our guide to investing in your relationships.

Work politics can be a real challenge when we have mental health problems. It can be helpful to find a mentor or a small group of trusted colleagues with whom we can discuss feelings about work – to sense check and help you work through challenges.

People have to try and make sure you maintain your friendships and family relationships even when work is intense – a work–life balance is important, and experts now believe that loneliness may be as bad for our health as smoking or obesity.

Time and place

There’s a time and place for everything – and when it comes to talking with someone about their mental health, that means a time and place that is most comfortable for them. The last thing anyone needs is to feel rushed. Find a time where you know you have at least 10 minutes of clear time to give.

We may want to arrange a time for a longer chat – either in work time if appropriate, or outside work. We want to find a place that’s comfortable for them. Some people want peace and quiet – others like hustle and bustle.

It’s very important to devote our full attention to the person we are reaching out to. That means minimizing disruptions like phones ringing or notifications popping up.

Active listening

Listening is vital for every relationship. Active listening is a term for a range of techniques that keep us present and engaged in a conversation.

We have to try and have eye contact, unless the person we are talking to doesn’t seem comfortable with that. Be open – that means open arms and turning slightly towards them.

We should acknowledge what's being said with appropriate nods and gestures, and repeat what they've said to check if we got it right. We have to ask direct and appropriate questions – but it's not appropriate to probe for more details than a person is prepared to give.

When the conversation ends, we need to recap what we have discussed and agreed, and make sure we do what we say you will. It can help to have some information to hand. So, we can put some helpline numbers and web links in our phone to pass on straight away.

Managing our own feelings

It can be hard to hear difficult or upsetting things, but we might want to reassure and encourage the person – that means not showing signs of surprise or judgement. We want to reassure the person that it’s OK to be speaking to us, and that we will treat what they say with respect.

It is tempting to immediately start suggesting solutions to problems – but it’s wise to ask a person what they want to happen. They may welcome suggestions, but, equally, they may just need to vent.