According to the World Health Organization (WHO), twenty-five percent of the world population is directly affected by a neurological or mental health condition.i When people experience elevated stress, such as during the pandemic, it can lead to emotional difficulties and even a mental health crisis. This can impact their ability to function in all areas of their life, especially their work. Disruptions related to COVID-19 have compounded sources of stress for many employees. A stressed worker cannot realistically be expected to be as productive and focused on their work. So, allowing employee stress to continue ends up costing companies in the long run. According to the World Health Organization, up to $1 trillion is lost in economic productivity to employee depression and anxiety annually.ii
During times of regional, national, or global crisis, employee stress is exacerbated. So, having a solid foundation of resources to promote mental wellness and support employees in a mental health crisis is vital to keeping your company running smoothly and efficiently. It is up to company leaders to be a positive example and create a culture that addresses mental health and supports emotional wellness in the workplace. Fortunately, there are many ways businesses can reduce employee stress and improve mental health through both prevention and treatment. The following are effective ways employers can positively affect their employees' mental health and the overall health of their companies.
Ask for employee feedback regarding mental health
Individuals and groups vary in their wants and needs when it comes to mental health support. Talk with your workforce openly about employee stress. Validate the emotional impact of events by conveying that their reactions are normal, understandable, and experienced by many people during these difficult times. Ask what they would find helpful and how they feel mental health is currently being addressed. Consider sending out anonymous surveys to get honest opinions.
Make personal connections with your employees
Taking time to have authentic interactions with your employees on an individual level is one of the most important things that business leaders can do to establish a supportive work environment for stressed employees. When people feel supported and cared for, it improves their mental health. This is especially true at work, where the workplace culture can influence employee morale and turnover. It can also help a stressed worker feel more comfortable communicating their need for help.
Offer flexibility within structures
When possible, give employees some control over their work and allow flexibility as long as workers fulfill their duties and meet the necessary deadlines. This can reduce employee stress levels and allow those struggling to get help or recuperate when needed.
Create educational programs for mental health education and stigma reduction
The stigma around mental health can prevent a stressed worker from seeking help or even acknowledging their struggles. Educational programs can reduce stigma, help employees recognize problematic thoughts, feelings, or behaviors in themselves or others, and provide guidance for when and how to seek professional help. Your educational programs should offer easy access to resources to support employees in a mental health crisis, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Disaster Distress Helpline, or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Include mental healthcare in your benefits plan
Find ways to incorporate mental health benefits that provide preventative and treatment services to support a stressed worker or employees in a mental health crisis. Consider benefits that include services through the continuum of care, ranging from inpatient treatment and traditional outpatient psychotherapy sessions through online mental health treatment and resources to maintain or improve emotional wellness. Make sure employees are aware of the mental health solutions offered and available to them through newsletters, blogs, and social media. Regular communications about available resources help to normalize their experience and reduce stigma around help-seeking for employees with all levels of need.
Provide resources or access to online mental health apps and digital therapeutics
Online mental health resources can provide options for stressed workers who are uncomfortable with traditional therapy or face other barriers to treatment. Various mental health apps are available utilizing therapeutic techniques, such as mindfulness and meditation. Digital therapeutics, such as Evermind's ePST (electronic Problem-solving Treatment), provide an alternative to traditional live therapy. ePST is specifically designed to support employees in proactively addressing daily life stressors that can affect their mental health. It uses NASA technology to remotely deliver science-based methods to reduce employee stress, build resilience, and improve overall emotional well-being. A benefit of online CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) is that employees can utilize it when and where it's most convenient for them and enables employees greater personal control over their wellness.
The bottom line is that employee wellness is a crucial component of business success. So, it is vital to support employees and prevent their stress from escalating into a mental health crisis. Providing a healthy and safe environment to express their needs and ways to overcome barriers to accessing mental healthcare will help reduce employee stress – and ensure employees can focus on their work without distraction.
i (2001, October 4). Mental disorders affect one in four people. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/
ii Tyson, Bernard J. (2019, January 21). It's time to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/01/its-time-to-end-the-stigma-surrounding-mental-health/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20study%20by,every%20year%20in%20lost%20productivity.
