MENTAL HEALTH: FOR YOU, AND YOUR STAFF

Posted on Tuesday, 4th October - 2022, in ADVICE & TIPS and INSIGHTS, by Saki Mimura

Mental Health Begins With You. However, There’s A Lot You Can Still Do To Help Others In Your Workplace.

Being mentally ill is not someone else’s problem. 

In fact, 1 in 5 Australians between 16 to 85 years old suffers from mental illness every year. You and your employees are no exception. Since we all have a possibility of being mentally unwell at any point in our lives, we need to ensure that we are well-prepared. 

As a manager, you are responsible for looking after your employees and making a working environment that enhances their mental health. 

Here, we explore what mental illnesses are and how to take care of our mental health in the workplace. 

What Happens When You Are Mentally Ill?

According to the Black Dog Institute, the most common mental illnesses Australians experience include depression and anxiety disorder. Below are some of the major characteristics and symptoms of the two illnesses suggested by the American Psychiatric Association:

DEPRESSION

• It shows with feeling sad and uninterested in things one used to enjoy
• It changes one’s appetite and sleeping behaviour 
• It increases ‘purposeless physical activity’ or slows how one talks and moves
• It involves feeling tired or worthless
• Thinking of suicide and deaths might be present
• It makes it difficult to concentrate, make decisions, and think 

ANXIETY DISORDER

• It differs from feeling nervous or anxious 
• It involves extreme anxiety and fear that disturb one’s daily activities
• It may happen with feeling tired or restless, being unable to sleep, having difficulty concentrating, or muscle tension
• A feeling of fear tends to revolve around one’s daily life including their responsibility at work 

How Can You Cultivate Your Staff’s Mental Health?

Caring for others starts with caring for yourself. Especially in terms of mental health, you, as a manager, need to make sure you are mentally healthy in your office. This is because you are the model worker for your employees. You can either become a good model to work in a healthy way or affect your staff negatively with poor care of your own mental health. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF AND YOUR EMPLOYEES

As you can already see, you need to adequately understand the types and symptoms of mental illnesses to recognise whether someone in your office is struggling with their mental health. Host workshops or training sessions regularly for acquiring knowledge of mental health. It is very crucial that each member of your company understand what mental illnesses would look like, because the one who is suffering might not be able to notice it by themselves. 

SHARE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION

Management can be very stressful and overwhelming. Do not hesitate from sharing your own struggles and feelings with your colleagues and employees. This way, you can create an atmosphere in your company where people can share honest feelings and experiences with one another without being considered inappropriate.  

REST PROPERLY AND ENABLE FLEXIBILITY OF WORKING STYLE

Managers, please avoid overworking. If you work excessively and you stay in your office the longest, it almost automatically creates an atmosphere where your employees are pressured to stay as well. Therefore, try to not work after your working hours and on your days off. Subsequently, your employees will also be able to enjoy their private lives more freely, which would lessen their distress from work. 

CREATE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT WITH TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES

Creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere in your workplace can take time. Unique Team Building offers various activities and programs to help you speed up the process. Through our exercises, you can develop trusting relationships with your employees and encourage casual communication with one another. This way, you and your employees will be more comfortable sharing the circumstances of their mental health. 

CONCLUSION

Mental health plays a vital role towards the creation of a positive working environment. Your staff being mentally healthy also mean more productivity and motivation, which directly leads to your company’s growth. Avoid underestimating its impact and start educating yourself today for you and your team’s wellbeing. 

Let us help you build a secure workplace where your employees can work comfortably in a mentally healthy way. 

Email us or call 07 3186 1026.