In most of the developed countries like the USA, Australia, UK, and others, mental health disorder is considered a burdensome health problem that is spiraling out of control. According to the research, 1 in 5 American adults have been facing various forms of mental illness.
Moreover, 71% of young Americans have been facing symptoms of anxiety, distress, stress, and headache due to different issues, a common one being workplace depression or anxiety.
It is also suggested that mental illness can lead to severe mental or physical disorders such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disorders, and other fatal illnesses related to bones, muscles, and joints.
On the other hand, severe mental illness can affect the employees performance and company on a whole. This shows how mental wellness and workplace performance is connected when dealing with various mental issues.
Mental Wellness & the Workplace
There are different factors that contribute or affect the mental wellness of the employees while working in their place of employment. These factors include:
- Type of workload or work
- Interaction between the employees and the boss
- The competencies and skills of the employee
- The managerial and organizational environment
- The support provided to the employees to accomplish their task and complete their work
All these factors contribute to the mental illness of the employees working under the constraint of a stressful environment.
Mental wellness is an important issue that is raised in different workplaces and professional environments to protect the mental health of the employees. However, an overburdened work situation also plays an important role in affecting the mental wellbeing of an employee.
It is a fact that work is good for the brain to stay active and perform better, but working in a negative environment can adversely affect the mental capability and physical wellbeing of the employees.
What Is The Importance of Workplace Policies to Ensure Mental Well-being?
Apart from anxiety and depression there are other factors that also contribute to disturbing the mental wellbeing of an individual.
However, we all know that workplace policies should be drafted in such a way that they ensure the mental wellness of their employees, so that they can perform better. Therefore, this is only possible, if these employees are given an environment to work in that is:
- Peaceful
- Friendly
- Flexible
- Encouraging
If the workplace is stressful and employees are facing issues like:
- Harassment
- Bullying
- Discouragement
- Toxicity
Then it is possible that productivity of the human mind and the business will fail due to the adverse effects of these issues on their staff. So, the organization should maintain workplace decorum while giving security, safety, and a healthy working environment to the employees where they can progress.
The importance of workplace policies ensures that the employee is working confidently. However, the organization can take various actions to implement the policies to promote mental wellness.
They can make policies to eliminate depression, anxiety, and stress from the workplace and make it a productive place to work.
The company or organization should invest in the employee’s wellbeing while providing them a comfort zone where they can relax, feel safe, and work productively.
The human resource department should regularly address mental health and disorders that can be found in the workplace. They should come together to solve these issues practically.
The organization should conduct interactive sessions between the boss and employees, so that their views, perspectives, and suggestions can be heard to keep the employees satisfied.
Adequate health and safety policies should be introduced in the workplace that will promote the mental wellbeing of the employees.
Poor management and communication practices should be eliminated completely from the workplace, so that employees can work in a better or a healthy environment.
Flexible working hours should be scheduled along with the preference sheet assigned by the manager, so that employees can work within those hours and not be bombarded with extra work.
Why It Is Important For Employees To Take Care of Their Mental Wellness?
It is very important for the employees to take care of their mental wellness, as their entire workplace performance depends on their mental health.
It is actually the responsibility of the organizational policies and laws to support the employees who are facing certain issues like mental illness or other disorders.
However, employees should try to:
- Stay fit and mentally active
- Exercise daily
- Do not overthink
- Lessen their workload
- Take care of their mental or physical health
- Personalize and practice good management skills
- Eat well
- Talk about their feelings
- Ask for help
- Take a break
- Care for others
- Accept their mistakes
- Take criticism politely
- Learn new things
- Change role and responsibilities
- Keep a track record of their work progress
- And practice mental wellbeing more often
All these above-mentioned elements will help the employees stay healthy and promote mental wellbeing in the workplace.
Understanding mental health illness should also be a primary objective of the organizations and employees at the same time. Because supporting mental wellbeing in an office is not something to ignore, rather it is a necessity.
Conclusion
Employees are also encouraged to launch mental wellness programs at work, so that other employees can learn about it.
The programs should also address the risk factors that lead to mental illness in the workplace. Along with this, different solutions should also be shared amongst the employees to treat or combat the mental illness causing factors and related disorders.
The human mind should be mentally strong to cope with everyday stressors which will help them contribute productively and actively with full potential to their community.
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