How to achieve mental health in the workplace
Many adults engaged in productive activities could find what they do pleasurable, as well as stressful, adequate mental health care should be taken. The gains derived from the work are usually both the driving force and the source of pleasure. On the other hand, the physical and mental energy exhausted in the course of doing the work amounts to stress and its consequent ill health.In the light of the above, today 10th October is observed yearly as World Mental Health Day with the overall objective of raising awareness on mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
Mental health challenges in the workplace
As adults, a large proportion of our time is spent at work. Our experience in the workplace is one of the factors determining our overall well-being. Employers and managers who put in place workplace initiatives to promote mental health and to support employees who have mental disorders see gains not only in the health of their employees but also in their productivity at work. Mental health challenges in the workplace can be triggered by a lot issues.
Poor remuneration:
The figures of salary improves or reduces the state of mind of the employee. When the salary cannot take care of the basic needs of the employee, lack of focus and poor attitude to work set in. The employee would not be happy and satisfied, as such, would not perform optimally. These have direct negative consequences.
Toxic work environment:
When the workplace is toxic, it poses some serious mental health challenges for the members of staff. Toxic work environment can often be created by judgmental attitudes, bullying of staff member, gossips, physical or sexual harassment, verbal abuse, lack of respect and regards and so on. No meaningful production can thrive in such environment
High work load:
When the capacity of the members of staff are stretched beyond what they can handle conveniently, it becomes unhealthy. This situation makes employee to experience burnout syndrome which is often characterized by depression, aggression to clients and colleagues, exhaustion, physical breakdown or death.
Unhealthy work practices:
Every profession has its ethics and Standard Operating Procedure (SPO) to serve the clients, benefit the employees as well as meet the institution’s gains, goals and objectives. Nonetheless, whenever the work practice do not protect the interests of these stakeholders, then it is unhealthy. Rules are meant to uplift and should not be changed at the detriment of any body.
Job insecurity:
Whenever the employees feel that their jobs are not secure, they do not bring in their initiative and enthusiasm to work, and as such, they do not perform optimally. They would be in constant state of fear of the unknown. in such situation the interest of the organization and clients are eroded for the interest of the the employees.
Poor work-life balance:
This is a situation where individuals spend most of their time and energy to work and less to other pleasures and activities of life, which consequently amount to work-life imbalance. In this situation, the individual could cut off from other realities of life due to work pressure and consequently face some measures of physical and emotional breakdown.
A negative working environment, on the other hand, may lead to physical and mental health problems, harmful use of substances or alcohol, absenteeism and loss of productivity. Depression and anxiety are common mental disorders that have an impact on our ability to work, and to work productively. So what would the management do?
To achieve mental health in the workplace
There are steps to be taken by both employers and employees to achieve healthy mental health in the workplace. The employer should practice the following:
- Positive reinforcement, via rewarding good performances
- Emotional intelligence, by taking care of your employees in a personal manner they do not expect
- Encourage team spirit by ensuring that everyone work together to achieve more
- Ensure good work practices in line with international gold standard
The employee should:
- Take good care of your body.
- Avoid worries and give your mind some rest
- Value yourself (treat yourself with kindness and respect)
- Be in the company of good people
- Be available to care for someone, clients and colleagues because it will make you feel good
- Relax, be happy and laugh as much as you can
- Be open to correction, new ideas and changes
- Work within the scope and time to avoid burnout syndrome
- Maintain team spirit and encourage your colleagues
- Be diligent and obey the rules
- Avoid frustration, Set realistic goals
- Say NO to drugs and alcoholism
- Do not die in silence, get help when you need it
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sources: www.who.int/mental_health/world-mental-health-day/2017
www.uhs.umich.edu/tenthings
www.uhs.umich.edu/tenthings
Beautiful and applicable. Thanks for this wellness tips
Thank you JCBlog