Workplace mental health

 

Workplace mental health

Each year, one in five adults in the U.S. will experience mental illness. Yet only one in three who need help will get it. As a result, many people will either miss work or will get less done on the job. The latter is known as presenteeism , when people go to work while struggling with physical or mental health issues. This is why focusing on workplace mental health is so important for your bottom line.

1.      Anxiety Disorders- Anxiety is the uneasiness that individuals feel when thinking about a future event they fear won’t end well.

     2.         Major Depressive Disorder-This condition affects how patients feel, think and act, and it can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Symptoms include a loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities; changes in appetite; dwindling energy; feelings of worthlessness; and difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions.

     3.          Bipolar Disorders-Bipolar disorders are brain disorders that cause “mood episodes,” or extreme and intense emotional states that occur at distinct times and can cause changes in a person’s behavior, energy level and ability to function. Such episodes are generally interspersed with normal moods.
 
    4.    Schizophrenia-Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder, Symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, trouble with thinking and lack of motivation.

    5.       Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-People with PTSD may feel sadness, fear or anger and may become estranged from others.

    6.        Eating Disorder-People with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa—common eating disorders—tend to be perfectionists with low self-esteem who are extremely critical of themselves and their bodies. They usually “feel fat” and see themselves as overweight, sometimes despite life-threatening semi-starvation.

    7.   Addiction/Substance Abuse-Addiction is a complex brain disease manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences

                                                                                                                   

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. But WHO also found that for every $1 spent on treating common mental health concerns, there is a return of $4 in improved health and productivity. 

The potential benefits of supporting employee mental health include:

• Increased productivity
• Increased retention
• Decreased health care and disability costs

Ways your company can support employee mental health

•    Understand how mental health impacts your employees
•     Include mental health coverage as part of your health care plan.
•     Establish an employee assistance program (EAP)
•     Use communication to reduce stigma and increase access to mental health resources.
•    Promote well-being

 

And finally, create opportunities for employees to build connections with each other, such as through social events, affinity groups, and electronic message boards.

Employees are more vulnerable to the negative impact of stress inside and outside of the workplace if they have not built strong positive relationships at work,” says Schultz. “Help make work interesting, social, and fun, so stressed-out employees aren’t working in isolation. Workplace relationships that are positive provide a source of support — that’s hard for anything else to replace.”

 

CONCLUSION

Open and supportive environments within companies have a drastic positive benefit on employee mental health. When leaders communicate with openness it signals their team members to do likewise. Sharing ideas and opinions among team members will do as much to build strong company culture.

REERENCES

Rawe.J. (2021) work place mental health (online).Available at https://www.understood.org/en/workplace/rights-at-work/workplace-mental-health-5-ways-to-support-employee-wellness Accessed on 26th April 2021

Train.J.(2021) Mental health at work (online).Available at https://www.agencycentral.co.uk/articles/2016-02/workplace-mental-health-hr-guide.htm Accessed on 26th April 2021