Mental Health Month

May is Mental Health Matters Month which is a good time to reflect on the crucial role that businesses can play in supporting mental health issues around their organisation. Mental illness can have a negative impact on a person's daily life, relationships and physical health. Anyone, regardless of their position or level of seniority, can be affected. 

Everyone has mental health, but it is due to stigma and silence that many individuals fail to access the help and support they require to prevent periods of bad mental health developing into more serious illnesses. The stigmatisation of mental health within society means that so many suffer in silence and thousands face discrimination within their workplace every day if they do choose to speak up.

However, by creating a culture of acceptance and support and having a vested interest in the mental health of their employees, organisations can create a healthier working environment with a more productive and happy staff. 

We know that mental health disorders can be attributed to situations inside and outside of work. However, as situations arise, it is  important for an employer to offer assistance  to help prevent the condition from worsening, to reduce absenteeism, or to help someone back to work. Employers who take steps to support their staff through their mental health issues are levelling the playing field in their workplace creating an environment that makes it a good place to work. No one deserves to suffer in silence or to feel that they are less valued within their organisation because of the struggles they face. 

So what can your organisation do to support your workforce’s mental health?

• Making your workplace a place that inspires good mental health can be achieved through many small changes: having flexible working hours and conditions, encouraging all employees to make sure they take a lunch break and work healthy hours, company socials, have a company mindfulness program where employees can access meditation toolkits or have a quiet space to go sit, inspire a culture of connectivity through regular department/team check-ins.

• Some bigger changes can include: free gym memberships or a dedicated workout room at the office to nurture mental and physical health, a dedicated company mental health professional or provisions of therapy/counselling at no expense to the employee, embed mental health in induction and training so that employees are aware of how your organisation manages mental health and what support is available to them, have a monthly self-development day where employees can focus on personal projects and goals,  invite a speaker on mental health to deliver a talk to your whole workforce, donate regularly to mental health charities so that access to care and support is improved nationwide and thus helping to tackle barriers at their source.

• #TalkAboutIt: at a basic level often people simply need to know they are not alone when it comes to struggling with mental health. Talking about mental health more openly and freely will help to break down stigmas and give people the confidence to ask for help if they need it.  

Here at VERCIDA we want to refocus the way that mental health is dealt with in the workplace. Teams are stronger when they come together and feel valued and understood at work.