3 Ways to Boost Employee Mental Health
Your star employee used to be at the top of their game. They handed assignments in on time, always volunteered to take on additional tasks, and created high-quality work.
But a few weeks ago, their work began to slip. They started handing things in late and stopped doing anything beyond the bare minimum for their position (and sometimes not even that.)
It’s easy to mistake these signs for laziness, but oftentimes, they have more to do with burnout and mental health than anything else.
Here at KMA Therapy, we know you care about your business and the people who work there. We’ve worked with companies to provide therapy services to their employees and ensure that everyone in the company - at every level - was able to thrive.
We’re passionate about educating our community about best practices for mental health and how to create solutions that work for them.
After reading this article, you’ll know why employee mental health is integral to your company, and three ways you can begin to foster positive mental health changes in your workforce.
Why Is Employee Mental Health So Important?
As we learn more about mental health, it’s obvious that it’s something we should care about. Your employees are people, and it’s natural to care about their wellbeing.
But creating real, tangible changes to support mental health isn’t just for the sake of your employees – it can hold many benefits for your company, too.
Supporting employee mental health can help:
- Reduce absenteeism
- Lower your turnover rates
- Lead to increased productivity
- Improve company culture and boost morale
- Foster healthier workplace relationships and reduce conflict
Three Ways to Support Employee Mental Health
Now that you know the benefits of improving employee mental health, let’s explore some strategies you can implement to make it happen.
1. Create a healthy work environment
There are countless ways to support employee mental health, but a lot of it comes down to the culture of the company (this doesn’t mean toxic positivity – it means creating a space for open and honest dialogue.)
This might include:
- Encouraging a healthy work-life balance
- Discouraging overly long hours or excessive workloads
- Listening to feedback about workplace stressors and making changes when possible
- Encouraging open communication about the workplace – including constructive criticisms and feedback on what’s going well
Be open to feedback from employees, and create opportunities for them to provide feedback without negative consequences.
2. Instill a sense of mattering
Mattering goes beyond the idea of simply belonging to your organization. When employees feel like they matter, they know their contributions are valued and necessary to the success of the company.
Let your employees know they matter by:
- Recognizing and celebrating their contributions
- Provide compensation for additional tasks taken on
- Listening to feedback and making changes when possible
- Provide resources and support for their mental health and wellbeing
- Creating opportunities (like work socials or community volunteering) to build a sense of community
3. Offer workplace benefits
Many workplaces now offer mental health benefits to employees, meaning that their health insurance will cover psychological services like therapy.
If you already offer this option, make sure employees are educated about how much coverage they have and offer a list of providers where they can receive care (if applicable.)
If you don’t offer coverage, consider adding it to your benefits plan or connecting with a therapy clinic to offer customized services based on your employees’ needs.
Next Steps for Boosting Employee Mental Health
After reading this article, you know how a mental healthy staff team can benefit your business and three steps to achieve a workplace culture that promotes positive mental health.
Here at KMA Therapy, we’re here to help you when you’re ready to take your support to the next level. We’ll work with you to create an ideal therapy plan for your business and help you support a successful employee team.
If you’re interested in exploring customized support plans for your employees, please send us an email - let’s work together to create an environment where your employees (and your business) will thrive.
To learn more about mental health in the workplace, check out these articles:
