Mental health no longer carries the stigma it once did. Now, it’s considered a health condition as normal and deserving of treatment as any physical ailment. As a business leader, providing access to mental health resources and services can benefit you and your employees in various ways. Here are some reasons why business leaders are prioritizing mental health and the tools they use to do so.
Why More Business Leaders Are Prioritizing Mental Health
Leaders must be ready to make tough decisions in a wide variety of situations. They are required to manage workplace crises, motivate team members, meet tight deadlines, and adapt to constant change. All of these responsibilities can take a toll on mental health and cause stress levels to skyrocket.
Employees who aren’t necessarily in leadership positions also often face significant stress as they struggle to meet deadlines and expectations. They, too, may experience a decline in mental health unless they’re given appropriate coping tools and strategies. Business owners and managers recognize this, which is why more are choosing to prioritize the mental health of their employees. Here are some of the top benefits this approach can offer in a workplace setting:
Improved Productivity
Workplaces that promote good mental health often enjoy a high level of individual and team productivity. Employees who prioritize their mental health through therapy, mindfulness, and other proven techniques tend to perform better than those with poor mental health. They also tend to bounce back from failure more quickly and successfully.
Reduced Risk of Burnout
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and/or mental exhaustion that’s often related to prolonged workplace stress. You or your employees are more likely to experience burnout if you are trying to handle an excessive workload or have a poor work-life balance. Burnout can lead to increased absenteeism as employees struggle to find the energy and motivation to return to work.
It’s important for managers to recognize signs of burnout in their employees so they can intervene immediately. Symptoms may include reduced performance, cynicism, disengagement, and increased absenteeism. Fortunately, prioritizing mental health at work by setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care can reduce the risk of burnout.
Improved Team Morale
Morale at work can make or break a company. If you have disgruntled, overworked employees, team morale is likely to plummet and put your profits at risk. On the other hand, positive workplace morale can take your business to new levels of success. Happy employees tend to be more productive and loyal than their disgruntled counterparts.
If you’re worried about improving team morale, prioritizing mental health is one of the best ways to address your concerns. When your employees know you care about their health and happiness, they’re more likely to feel content and valued in the workplace.
Decreased Turnover Rate
Companies with high employee turnover rates waste a lot of time and money constantly training new employees and bringing them up to speed. It’s much better to provide a positive work environment so employees are less likely to leave. The more stressful a work environment is, the higher the employee turnover rate tends to be.
As a business leader, you can decrease employee turnover rates by offering reasonable workloads to employees. You can also keep workers happy by providing them with the following tools and services designed to improve their mental health.
Tools to Improve Mental Health in the Workplace
Now that you understand the benefits of prioritizing mental health in the workplace, it’s time to put the idea into practice. Here are some tools to help you achieve your goal:
Provide Access to Mental Health Support
Right now, you probably have employees who could benefit from mental health support but don’t know how to access it. You might consider implementing an employee assistance program (EAP) to help them. EAPs offer free assessments, confidential counseling, and other mental health services. EAP counselors may work in cooperation with supervisors to address performance issues, interpersonal workplace concerns, and make employee accommodations as needed.
Offer Fitness Programs and Paid Gym Memberships
It’s no secret that living a healthy, active lifestyle can boost overall health and mood. However, many full-time workers may not feel like they have the time or budget to justify a gym membership. That’s why many employers are offering on-site gyms, fitness programs, or paid gym memberships. These services can give employees the incentive they need to get more active and thus boost their physical and mental health.
Stress Management Training
Some employers offer regular stress management training to help workers learn how to avoid getting overwhelmed by their daily responsibilities. They may bring in psychologists or other mental health professionals periodically to perform this training. Management skills and conflict resolution are often important components of such training.
Conclusion
Keeping yourself and your employees healthy, happy, and productive is crucial for the current and future success of your business. High turnover rates, low morale, and low productivity are all symptoms of a deeper problem that often traces back to poor mental health support. Use these tools to start prioritizing mental health in the workplace. Your efforts will likely pay off in the form of lower turnover rates, improved employee morale, and increased productivity.
