Prioritizing Employee Well-Being: Mental Health in the Workplace
Employee well-being and mental health have become critical concerns for organizations worldwide. Business leaders realize that a happy, healthy workforce is great for individual employees and the organization as a whole. However, employees across the country are still dealing with mental health concerns for a variety of reasons.
While the widespread move to remote and hybrid work has yielded many benefits, it can also cause employees to feel disconnected from their teams and organizations. Likewise, your human resources personnel may find it more challenging to monitor and promote the well-being of remote or hybrid employees.
The bad news is that poor employee mental health can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher employee turnover rates. The good news is that you have an opportunity to create a work environment that supports and promotes employee well-being. What you do with this opportunity is up to you.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the psychological challenges your employees are facing and how you can make mental health a priority in the workplace.
Understanding Mental Health in the Workplace
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) conducted a comprehensive poll of full-time workers in January 2024. Here are some of their key findings:
- 15% of workers ages 18-29 rate their mental health as “somewhat poor”
- About 25% of employees are dissatisfied with workplace culture
- Only 58% of full-time U.S. workers are comfortable sharing about their mental health at work
- Burnout remains high among mid-level and entry-level employees
Let’s unpack the underlying challenges and factors that may be behind this concerning data.
Common Mental Health Challenges Faced by Employees
Your team members face a wide range of challenges that can negatively impact their mental health and well-being. The pressure of high workloads and unrealistic deadlines can leave employees feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
Depression represents another major hurdle. It can lead to a lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, and a general sense of hopelessness.
Burnout represents one of the most persistent mental health challenges faced by employees. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports that 44% of U.S. workers feel burned out. Slightly more (45%) feel “emotionally drained,” and over half (51%) report feeling “used up” at the end of each shift.
Factors Contributing to Poor Mental Health
Workplace factors can exacerbate existing mental health concerns or even lead to new challenges for your employees. Some factors that may contribute to poor mental health include:
- High workloads and unrealistic deadlines
- Lack of work-life balance
- Toxic work environments
You cannot allow these types of conditions to emerge or fester within your organization. The longer they persist, the more widespread the effects on your employees.
The Impact of Mental Health on Employee Performance and Engagement
The American Psychological Association (APA) discovered a connection between poor employee mental health and a wide range of performance and engagement issues. Researchers reported that 57% of workers experienced negative impacts because of workplace stress. These feelings were linked to:
- Emotional exhaustion
- A lack of motivation
- A desire to quit
- Irritability or anger with customers and coworkers
- Lower productivity
- Feelings of ineffectiveness
There’s no denying that poor mental health will have serious consequences for your business. That’s why you must proactively cultivate an environment where your employees feel supported.
Strategies for Promoting Employee Well-Being and Mental Health
You can support your team members and promote a healthy work environment in several ways.
Creating a Supportive and Inclusive Work Culture
People want to feel like part of the team. They also want to know that they can discuss their challenges at work and seek support when they need it.
Encourage open communication and destigmatize mental health through targeted training. Educate your employees about the importance of seeking support when they are having a tough time. Do your part by offering flexible work arrangements when possible and encourage your team members to maintain a good work-life balance.
Implementing Comprehensive Mental Health Programs and Resources
A mental health program can provide employees with valuable resources during their time of need. Employee assistance programs (EAPs) can be useful for addressing substance abuse and mental health challenges. These programs offer confidential counseling and support.
You should also provide ongoing support to promote mindfulness and stress management. Consider distributing tips for mitigating stress or hosting a workshop on company time.
Promoting Physical and Emotional Well-Being
There’s a clear connection between physical and emotional wellness. Encourage your employees to stay active and make healthy choices. Promote movement and ensure your team members are periodically stepping away from their desks to get the blood flowing.
You could provide programs that encourage physical activity, such as paying for employee gym memberships or organizing fitness challenges. If you can make working out fun, you’ll see better participation rates and can help your employees unlock the emotional benefits of regular exercise.
Leveraging Data and Analytics for Continuous Improvement
You can’t achieve meaningful well-being improvements unless you know what challenges your employees are facing and where your company currently stands in terms of culture. Employee surveys and assessments can help you gather feedback from team members and identify areas for improvement.
Use tools like PeopleInsight by HireRoad to analyze data such as call-ins and engagement levels. This platform will help you detect concerning trends so you can take meaningful action to remedy those issues.
Never settle for good enough. Always work to make your wellness programs better and more effective. Your employees deserve the best you can give them.
Building a Mentally Healthy Workplace: Best Practices
Let’s take a closer look at four best practices that will help you build a mentally healthy organization.
Leadership Commitment and Accountability
Change starts at the top. If you take mental health and well-being seriously, your employees probably will, too.
Set the tone for a wellness-focused work experience in creating policies and guidelines for mental health support. Distribute these resources to employees during onboarding by using tools like Onboard by HireRoad. This platform makes it easy to immerse new hires into company culture and make them feel welcome.
Ensure your mental health programs are adequately funded and prioritized. You have to put your money where your mouth is so that employees know you are serious about their well-being.
Fostering a Culture of Psychological Safety
Make sure employees know they can share their challenges without fear of judgment. Use training tools like Learn with HireRoad to standardize and scale anti-bullying and harassment training across your organization. Foster a workplace culture that values respect and inclusivity.
Tailoring Well-Being Programs to Individual Needs
Mental health is not one-size-fits-all. Tailor your programs to fit the needs of your workforce.
Recognize the diversity of mental health challenges. Everyone handles well-being issues differently. Provide individualized support for those who need it. Empower employees to take charge of their wellness journey by providing resources and support.
Continuous Learning and Improvement
Mental health practices evolve over time. Keep up with the latest research and best practices to ensure your strategies are effective. Regularly ask employers for feedback on your initiatives. They are your best resource for making targeted improvements.
Take Control of Employee Wellness
Stress and mental health challenges are more prevalent than ever. By prioritizing employee well-being and mental health, you can be a source of stability for your workforce in their time of need.
The Benefits of a Mentally Healthy Workplace
A mentally healthy workplace fosters creativity, engagement, and efficiency. You’ll also experience benefits like fewer callouts and reduced turnover. Create a place where workers can truly thrive to attract and retain top talent.
Implementing a Comprehensive Well-Being Strategy
You need real-time, relevant data insights about your workforce to create an impactful well-being strategy.
Enter PeopleInsight by HireRoad. Our robust people analytics solution gives you actionable information about the state of your employees and business. Use our dynamic platform to create a wellness strategy that’s tailored to the unique needs of your team.