World Mental Health Day: Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace

World Mental Health Day falls each year on October 10th, and the official theme for 2024 is ‘It’s Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace’. One of the key findings from Adare’s HR Barometer Series 8.1 was that mental health was the most commonly cited reason for short-term absences by Employees. In addition, one in three respondents in our survey noted an increase in short-term absence due to work-related stress. Against this backdrop, let’s take a look at how Organisations can prioritise mental health in the workplace.

Identify Causes of Workplace Stress

Common workplace stressors include excessive workloads, unclear expectations, failure to resolve grievances and poor communication. From a HR perspective, management must assess Organisational practices to identify and mitigate any of these unnecessary stress points. Remedies may include refining job roles to ensure manageable workloads, improving processes for clearer communication, implementing efficient grievance procedures and setting realistic performance targets. By tackling workplace stressors, Organisations can help foster a more productive work environment that minimises mental health risks.

Encourage Work-Life Balance

An imbalance between an Employee’s work-life and personal life is one of the leading causes of stress and burnout. Organisations should ensure that Employees receive regular rest and that operations support a healthy work-life balance. Flexible working hours, remote work options, and promoting “time-off without guilt” will encourage Employees to take regular breaks, use their annual leave, and disconnect after work. These are simple but effective steps that will help reduce burnout and stress.

Hold Regular Wellbeing Surveys

To better understand the mental health status of Employees, HR teams or management should consider holing regular anonymous wellbeing surveys. Gathering feedback will help identify areas of concern and allow leadership teams to take targeted actions to address any risks. Regularly assessing the wellbeing of Employees not only helps track progress but also signals to Employees that their mental health is a priority.

Promote Physical Wellbeing

Physical health and mental health are closely linked. Encouraging physical activity within the workplace is an excellent way to boost Employee mental health. Organisations can offer fitness memberships, yoga sessions, or walking meetings to encourage Employees to be more active. HR can also provide ergonomic tools and tips for Employees to create comfortable workspaces, which helps reduce stress and discomfort, especially for remote workers.

Train Management to Identify Mental Health Problems

Managers are often the first point of contact when Employees are struggling. Equipping managers with the skills to recognise signs of anxiety, depression, or burnout is critical. Consider arranging training for managers that arms them with the tools to approach sensitive conversations, understand appropriate boundaries, and direct Employees to further support when needed. A manager who listens without judgment and who can provide guidance can make a significant difference to an Employee who may be struggling with a mental health issue.

Mental Health Resources

Many Organisations support Employees by providing mental health supports like Employee Assistance Programmes that provide counselling and other supports. There are also wellness apps available that help Employees with stress management, mindfulness and resilience.

Raise Awareness: A Joint Commitment to Mental Health

World Mental Health Day serves as an opportunity to raise awareness around mental wellbeing in the workplace. To make more enduring progress in this area, Organisations should ensure that mental health initiatives are not forgotten about after World Mental Health Day. When HR professionals and business owners take active steps to promote mental health, it helps to create a culture where Employees feel valued, understood, and supported. This investment in mental health not only benefits individual Employees but also enhances overall Organisational performance, fostering a more engaged, resilient, and productive workforce.

If you would like to know more how your Organisation can prioritise mental health in the workplace, please do contact our team of Employment Law and Human Resource experts.  Reach out to us at (01) 561 3594 or info@adarehrm.ie for support tailored to your needs.