Mental Health Tips to Help Your Staff Thrive

Feeling overwhelmed, anxious or stressed out at work? You’re not alone. Mental health problems are on the rise, and it’s more important than ever for employers to understand how to best support their staff. In this article, discover the key mental health tips that can help your team thrive.

Quick facts: Mental Health Tips For Staff

✅ Over 50% of adults in the US have reported experiencing mental health symptoms in the past year (CDC, 2020).

✅ Employee mental health has become a top priority for employers, with over 70% of organizations having a mental health policy in place (SHRM, 2019).

✅ Mental health education is linked to better overall employee wellbeing, with 65% of employees saying they would be more likely to stay with a company that provides mental health resources (SimplyWell, 2018).

✅ Employees who report a supportive workplace environment are five times more likely to report being mentally healthy (The National Institute for Mental Health, 2020).

✅ Stress and anxiety are the leading cause of absenteeism in the workplace, accounting for up to 35% of missed work days (OECD, 2019).

Checkout this video:

How to Take Care of your Employees Mental Health

Taking care of your employees’ mental health is one of the most important things you can do as an employer. It is essential to ensure that your staff are well cared for and supported during their time with your company. There are several strategies you can use to help promote positive mental health in the workplace and create an environment where your staff can thrive.

• It is important to create open dialogue within the workplace, where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns openly and honestly.
• Encouraging a safe space where colleagues can talk about how they may be feeling can help create an atmosphere of understanding and respect amongst team members.
• Providing stress management and workplace wellness programs, such as yoga or meditation sessions, is another way to promote positive mental health.
• Additionally, offering flexible work times or remote working opportunities may help reduce stress for those with extra responsibilities outside of the office.
• Finally, developing a comprehensive employee assistance program which offers counseling services and other resources/support for employees dealing with difficult life events or mental health issues will demonstrate that you value their wellbeing in all aspects.

Work on your communication and expectations

Social media has its advantages, but there are also some drawbacks. One of the biggest risks for employees is that it can become very overwhelming in a short amount of time. People can become inundated with posts, notifications, and messages from friends, family members, and colleagues. This can lead to stress, anxiety and fatigue.

Additionally, when people are spending a lot of time on social media platforms they may be neglecting their work duties or spending less time engaging with family and friends in person.

As an employer it’s important to set clear expectations around the use of social media at work. Make sure employees know that they should spend their working hours focusing on their job instead of aimlessly scrolling through various platforms or engaging in online arguments with strangers. Encourage employees to think twice before they post something online as things posted can have repercussions not only professionally but also personally. Finally, foster an environment of open communication where employees feel comfortable discussing any issues or feelings associated with using social media at work.

Practice check-in with your employees

Practice check-in with your employees to determine how they are using social media. A check-in can be done at the beginning of a shift or even as an informal conversation during a break. This will help you to better understand if they are using social media as an escape from their daily stressors or to stay informed on industry news.

Employees who have a hard time disconnecting from the Internet can benefit from setting limits and boundaries on how much time they spend scrolling through their feeds and avoiding social media altogether after certain times of the day. Additionally, focus on providing your team with positive content that will keep their spirits up and reduce stress levels. Finally, reminding employees that it is ok to unplug and step away from the feeds can be beneficial in helping them stay engaged with those around them.

Normalize mental health care

Normalizing mental health care is important for employers to promote among their staff. It’s important that employees feel safe and supported to talk about any issues or stressors they are feeling in the workplace.

To normalize mental health care, employers can offer benefits for therapy and counseling services. Having an open dialogue about mental health within the workplace also helps to reduce any stigma around getting help for mental illness or distress. Communicating the importance of taking care of one’s mental health is also important in helping employees feel comfortable seeking out professional care when needed.

Employers should also actively listen and respond to employee concerns regarding their mental wellbeing, as this helps show support for employees who may be struggling with mental illness. Finally, if possible, employers should provide space in the workplace dedicated solely to promoting and caring for employee’s mental health needs.

Ensure a safe workplace environment

In order to ensure a safe workplace environment, it is necessary to establish respectful communication and boundaries between employees. The workplace must be a safe space where everyone feels respected and their ideas are valued. Every employee has a right to feel comfortable in their environment, free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. Leaders should make sure that employees are aware of this right and can confidently report any negative behaviour they encounter in the workplace.

It is also important to provide opportunities for employees to connect with each other outside of work. This can involve:

• Team building activities
• Social events
• Taking time out during the day for casual conversations

These connections are an important part of reinforcing a positive workplace culture and providing support for everyone’s mental well-being.

View different employee needs

Mental health spring cleaning includes viewing different employee needs and considering how they can be addressed. It’s important to understand that each employee has different mental health needs, so it’s important to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up about their struggles.

This could be through regular 1-on-1s, anonymous surveys, or even an online platform for employees to share their concerns. It is also important to listen to any feedback received and act on it accordingly in order to create a more inclusive and supportive workplace. Not only will this help create a sense of trust between the employer and their employees but will also encourage employees to speak out when they need help or are struggling.

Provide training

Providing training for your staff about mental health issues is an important step in helping them manage their emotional well-being. Offering training sessions that cover how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness, how to access mental health services, and how to develop healthy coping strategies can help your staff feel more prepared and confident when dealing with stress.

Additionally, providing recognition of achievements related to mental health goals can help motivate employees to take care of their emotional well-being. It’s also beneficial to educate supervisors on the importance of creating an environment where employees feel safe discussing mental health issues.

By providing training on mental health topics, employers have the opportunity to give their staff the necessary tools they need to protect their own mindsets:

• Recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illness.
• Accessing mental health services.
• Developing healthy coping strategies.
• Creating an environment where employees feel safe discussing mental health issues.

Provide breaks and active rest days

Providing your staff with breaks and active days of rest is an essential way to help manage social media and mental health. Encourage your staff to take a break from social media every day, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Additionally, actively schedule rest days from all screen time, so that employees can move away from their devices and enjoy other activities that can help reduce stress levels. Allowing for the shift in focus will also give them an opportunity to reset and refresh their minds so that they remain productive and engaged throughout the day.

As a team, you may even want to consider setting up a “social media free zone” where employees won’t be allowed to post or check any of their accounts during work hours. This will help reduce distractions and foster better mental health amongst employees who spend so much time on digital devices.

How Does Mental Health Impact On-The-Job Performance?

Mental health issues, such as stress and anxiety, can affect your employees’ job performance. When employees are feeling overwhelmed, they are less likely to be able to focus on their work or manage conflicts. This can lead to decreased productivity and absenteeism, as well as reduced morale and motivation.

Mental health is also a major factor in workplace safety. Mental health issues can cause employees to make poor decisions that put themselves and others in danger. They may also be more prone to take risks due to poor judgment or reckless behavior.

Investing in mental health resources for your staff is essential for creating a safe and productive work environment. Through regular check-ins with your staff members, implementing stress-reducing strategies like meditation, or providing access to mental health resources such as counseling services, you can help ensure that your employees remain mentally healthy while on the job.

Walking the Walk: Taking Action on Mental Health Reaps Rewards

The way in which organizations approach mental health can have a huge impact on the productivity and overall wellbeing of their employees. That’s why taking proactive steps to create a culture that supports mental health is so important. Organizations that show their commitment to improving the mental health of their staff by taking action will reap systemic rewards in the form of improved morale, productivity, and wellness.

It is essential to actively promote an open, non-stigmatizing attitude toward mental health issues. Companies should provide access to mental health resources such as counseling services and self-help materials, as well as training programs that help managers recognize signs of distress and offer support. Additionally, instituting flexible policies around work hours may help alleviate stress for employees with existing mental health conditions or those facing pinch points in their lives due to family obligations or other commitments. Such strategies provide tangible evidence that a company walks the walk when it comes to caring for its staff’s wellbeing.

20 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health (and Feel Better)

Mental health is an important part of everyday life and can have a direct impact on how productive and successful you are in your day-to-day life. There are many ways to improve your mental health and feeling better, both physically and emotionally. Here are 20 simple tips to help your staff thrive:

1. Make time for yourself – spend time doing activities that make you feel relaxed, recharged and invigorated like yoga, reading or going for a walk.
2. Take care of your body – get enough exercise, eat healthy meals and take regular breaks throughout the day.
3. Talk to someone – don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it, whether it’s from a mental health professional or from friends or family members who can provide support.
4. Live in the present – focus on what’s happening now instead of worrying about the future or dwelling on the past events that happened outside of your control; this will help keep you grounded in reality
5. Connect with others – getting out there and talking with people can help build our sense of connectedness which improves our emotional wellbeing
6. Stay organized – try to create structure within your daily routine by making a schedule or a list of tasks that need to be done; this will reduce stress levels while helping you stay focused on the task at hand
7. Manage stress – come up with healthy ways to manage stress such as relaxation techniques like meditation or mindfulness activities
8. Show kindness – being kind helps us feel connected to others while also boosting our self-esteem; so do what ever you can do be kinder towards yourself and those around you

Mental Health In Tough Times: 6 Tips to Support Employees

Mental Health In Tough Times: 6 tips to support employees is a guide to help employers understand the importance of supporting employee mental health during difficult times. As most of us are facing unprecedented challenges this year, it is essential for employers to be aware of their employees’ mental health and how they can better support them.

This guide offers six tips that can help employers provide their staff the resources they need to stay mentally healthy. These include:

• Fostering an environment of openness and understanding.
• Creating safe spaces for individuals to talk about emotions.
• Providing flexible scheduling options.
• Encouraging breaks from work.
• Offering mental health services such as counseling or psychotherapy through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Utilizing other available resources.

These tips are meant not only as a reminder for employers on how to properly support their employees mentally but also as a reminder that in tough times it is especially important to look out for our own psychological well-being.

Investing in Mental Health Pays Off

Investing in mental health pays off in the long run. College students often have to balance the demands of classes, studying, and extracurricular activities, while also managing social relationships, adjusting to their new environment, and finding ways to cope with homesickness. Mental health should be a priority as it’s essential for living a happy and successful life.

A few practices that can help foster better mental health include:

• Building restful sleep habits.
• Being mindful of stress levels.
• Taking care of physical health.
• Reaching out for support when needed.
• Staying connected with friends and family members back home.
• Engaging in activities that bring joy.

When college students invest in their mental health through these practices they become more productive academically and more successful overall.

Tip #1 Offer Empathy & Flexibility

Tip #1: Offer Empathy & Flexibility should be a key component of any successful mental health strategy. As employers, it is up to us to recognize the unique challenges that each individual faces in their personal life and work life. We can then work with them to find solutions that provide support without creating an undue burden on their lives.

Offering empathy and flexibility gave employees a safe space to openly discuss their concerns, ask for assistance, or better understand how their concerns related to the entire organization’s goals. Everyone benefits when employees are emotionally supported and provided with resources to succeed in their professional lives.

Furthermore, investing in your physical health yields long term benefits for the mental wellbeing of your staff, as physical activity is linked to lower stress levels and improved moods.

Tip #2 Make a Clear Collective Statement

Tip #2: Make a Clear Collective Statement is an important step in helping to staff members to feel safe and supported in their work environment. When a company or workplace makes a clear collective statement about how it supports the mental health of its employees, this sends the message that mental well-being is taken seriously and establishes a culture of accepting help-seeking behavior. A clear collective statement encourages conversations about mental health, can reduce stigma, and make staff more likely to reach out for help when needed.

Additionally, having specific policies in place for how management should respond if an employee discloses mental health issues fosters trust and provides an open forum for discussion. This helps to ensure that all staff members feel safe seeking help when needed:

• Establish a clear collective statement about mental health.
• Encourage conversations about mental health.
• Reduce stigma.
• Make staff more likely to reach out for help when needed.
• Have specific policies in place for how management should respond if an employee discloses mental health issues.
• Foster trust and provide an open forum for discussion.
• Ensure that all staff members feel safe seeking help when needed.

Tip #3 Raise Awareness Among Leaders

Tip #3 Raise Awareness Among Leaders: Leaders have the power to create an encouraging and supportive environment for their staff. It’s important to raise awareness among managers of the importance of self-compassion. This means recognizing that mistakes are part of learning, understanding that each person is capable of managing their own mental health challenges, and not judging others for asking for help.

Encourage your leaders to lead by example and show empathy and understanding towards their staff. Setting an example at the top can also help create a culture where people feel safe to talk about mental health challenges without fear of judgement or reprisal.

Tip #4 Take Care of Yourself

Tip #4: Take Care of Yourself is an important tip for when it comes to staff mental health. Taking care of yourself is key to being able to perform your best in the workplace and help your staff thrive.

To take care of yourself, make sure you are prioritizing enough self-care activities such as adequate sleep, exercise, healthy eating habits, and relaxation. Additionally, it’s also important to learn how to practice mindfulness and develop positive thinking patterns so that you can stay resilient during difficult times.

Learning new skills can also be a great way to build resilience and strengthen mental health in the workplace. Look for opportunities such as workshops or seminars offered by your employer or take advantage of free online resources on topics like stress management, communication skills, team building, problem solving, organizational techniques and more. Having more knowledge allows you to better identify issues that need attention before they become bigger problems and keep you feeling more empowered in your work environment.

Tip #5 Help Colleagues Affected by Crises

Tip #5 of Mental Health Tips to Help Your Staff Thrive encourages leaders and colleagues to provide support to colleagues affected by crises. Caring and understanding can go a long way in helping those affected cope with difficult situations and life’s hardships. Encouraging staff members to seek professional help is also key, particularly when dealing with deep-rooted issues such as anxiety, depression, or trauma.

It is important for leaders to provide the resources necessary for staff members who seek professional help. Creating a safe space where staff members can comfortably talk about their mental health without fear of judgement or consequences is essential in helping them recover from crises. Additionally, providing access to:

• Remote counseling
• Peer support groups
• Online courses
• Workshops offered by local consultants or non-profit organizations
• Professional coaching or therapy (which provides individuals with a tailored plan based on their unique needs and desired outcomes)

are all good options for those looking for additional support.

Tip #6 Seek Professional Mental Health Support

Tip #6: Seek Professional Mental Health Support: Winter can bring about feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. If these feelings persist, seek professional help from a mental health provider. A mental health provider is trained to help you develop coping strategies for working through difficult emotions and anxiety. Talking to a trusted professional can provide clarity and insight into how you’re feeling and be an invaluable resource as you strive to overcome winter anxiety.

If cost is a concern, there may be free or low-cost programs offered by local mental health organizations or your community health center. Additionally, some employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that provide employees with access to non-medical counseling services. Lastly, online therapy provides convenient access to mental health professionals without leaving your home or office.

Remember That Everyone Reacts Differently to Crises

During times of crisis, it is important to remember that everyone responds differently, and not everyone will respond in the same way. It is natural to experience stress and anxiety during a crisis and it is important to recognize this response in others as well. Everyone’s ability to cope with stressful situations may vary and it is important to respect each person’s unique response.

Some people may become overwhelmed during a crisis or struggle with feelings of helplessness or fear; while others may respond more optimistically and see this as an opportunity for growth. Some people may have difficulty processing their emotions or even expressing them, whereas others might find solace in talking about their experiences. It is key for employers to be aware of these different reactions so that they can provide adequate support for their employees during times of high stress or anxiety.

FAQs about: mental health tips for staff

Q1: What is the most important mental health tip for staff?

A1: One of the most important mental health tips for staff is to take regular breaks throughout the workday. Taking short breaks can help to reduce stress and allow staff to recharge and refocus throughout their day.

Q2: How can staff practice self-care during the workday?

A2: Practicing self-care during the workday can be as simple as taking a few minutes to stretch, take a walk, listen to calming music, or do some deep breathing exercises. Additionally, setting boundaries with colleagues and taking regular breaks can help staff to practice self-care more effectively.

Q3: What resources are available for staff to help manage their mental health?

A3: Many organizations offer resources to help staff manage their mental health, such as Employee Assistance Programs, online mental health resources, and mental health counseling. Additionally, there are many online resources available to help staff with their mental health and well-being, such as meditation apps and online support groups.