How Leaders Can Promote Mental Well-Being in the Workplace

Author:

Hayley Snelling

B.S. Psychology

Editor:

Emma Loker

B.S

Nowadays, leaders face more challenges than ever. They must not only help their business succeed, but they also need to create a work environment that supports the mental health of their staff. Employees who feel supported are more engaged and productive at work, creating a more positive and healthier workspace for everyone. But what does it really mean to make a workplace that prioritizes mental well-being, and how can you, as a leader, play a key role in creating this?

On this page, we’ll explore what workplace wellbeing is and why it’s essential, both for the employees and the businesses. You’ll discover the pivotal role of leadership in promoting mental health and well-being in their teams, as well as strategies you can use to create a supportive work environment. We’ll also look at the benefits of corporate mental health programs and how they can impact your workplace culture.

By the end, you’ll have a much clearer understanding of what you can do to promote mental well-being in your organization and create a workplace where your employees can thrive.

What Is Workplace Wellbeing?

Workplace well-being refers to all aspects of your work life – mental, emotional, and social, from your working environment to your interactions with colleagues and your individual workload. Mental and emotional health are a key factor of workplace wellbeing, so organizations that create a supportive workplace culture – where stress is managed, and mental health isn’t taboo – will find higher levels of workplace wellness.

Importance of Wellbeing at Work

Let’s face it: work has a huge impact on our mental health as a worker. It’s where we spend a large amount of our day, and it’s important to feel supported by our employers. But did you know that more than 17 million working days were lost in 2022/2023 because of work-related anxiety, stress, or depression?¹ That’s a lot of days when people feel unwell because of work-related mental health issues. This isn’t good for a person’s well-being, and you can probably see why eight out of ten people say they are looking for future workplaces that support their employees’ mental health.²

From the business side, poor workplace mental well-being isn’t something that should be ignored. It can cause employees to call in sick, result in a high turnover of staff, and leave teams struggling to meet their targets. Yet surveys show when employees were treated and received the right support, 80% of people found their productivity to increase.³ Also, organizations with policies that promoted and supported mental wellness at work lost fewer days to sickness and had higher productivity rates.⁴

With mental well-being in organizations being so important, both on a personal and business level, is it something you can really ignore as a leader?

What Role Does Leadership Play in Supporting Mental Fitness in the Workplace?

Leaders have a vital role when supporting and promoting mental wellness at work. Leaders are role models in the workplace, and as such their attitudes and behaviors will influence those around them. If they show they prioritize well-being, they can create a work culture that follows suit. They can create a safe space at work free of mental health stigma where their employees can feel supported enough to share any concerns they have, and leaders can point workers in the direction of resources that may be useful for them.

Without the support of leadership roles, mental health policies could not be implemented. Managers can also talk with their staff to discover sources of work-related stress and find ways to improve these, having an impact on the employee’s job satisfaction, mental health, and workplace productivity.⁵ Leaders can lead by example and inspire those around them to do the same.

7 Strategies to Promote Mental Well-Being in the Workplace

As a manager, your role is essential for promoting mental health in teams. You may be wondering how you can begin to help your workforce become healthier and more productive. Well, let’s take a look at some mental health leadership strategies that you can implement to bring about positive change for the mental wellness of your employees.

1. Create a Supportive Environment

Creating a mentally healthy workplace culture doesn’t have to be expensive, but does need to be built into the organization as a whole. As a manager, you have a major role in upholding this supportive culture. You can make sure that you are familiar with the mental health policies in your company so that you can support employees who come to you for advice. You can find out from your workers what factors are affecting their work well-being, and look at ways to improve these areas. Finally, being available for check-ins with your staff shows that you are there for them so that they can come to you when they have issues to talk about.⁶

2. Offer Mental Health Resources

Over a third of employees say that employer-provided mental health resources can contribute to a better work environment.⁷ Ensure you are familiar with the resources your organization offers to help employees’ well-being. This might include Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), stress management courses, gym membership discounts, lunchtime yoga, or meditation sessions. Knowing which employee mental health initiatives you offer will help prepare you for when someone needs your advice.

3. Encourage Employees to Prioritize Wellbeing

Encourage your employees to take their breaks, use their vacation time, and keep a healthy work/life balance. In fact, studies show that workers who take short breaks throughout the day tend to be more productive.⁸ Let them know about their right to reasonable adjustments to their work schedule, and be willing to discuss options that could help them be more productive at work.

4. Address Stigma

Less than half of employees say they are comfortable talking about their mental health at work, with one of the main reasons being fear of stigma.⁹ This is because of misconceptions some people have, such as mental health conditions being a sign of weakness. Stigma can make people less likely to seek the help they need for their condition, creating a downward spiral. To address this, you can tackle stigma and discrimination in the moment that you hear or see it. If you directly manage an employee, remember to see the person, rather than a stereotype of an illness. Everyone is different, and we all have unique needs, so talk to the employee about what they need, don’t make assumptions.¹⁰

5. Mental Health Awareness Training

Training managers on mental health leadership skills is important when more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness.¹¹ Mental health awareness training will give you the chance to develop the skills needed to recognize signs of mental health problems, support employees, and lead a resilient team. It also helps to debunk common myths and reduce stigma.¹² Leading with mental health awareness will show that you are committed to promoting mental well-being in your organization.

6. Have Mental Health Policies

Companies need to have a mental health policy to let workers know how to raise concerns about their health, and also give guidance to managers on how they can support their staff. These policies also include topics such as workplace adjustments, any training available, resources and support and where to find them, returning to work after a period of leave, and anything else relevant to mental health in your organization.¹³

7. Encourage Open Communication

People often feel better for talking about how they feel, but this can be a difficult conversation to start in the workplace. More than three-quarters of employees say that supervisors and leadership should be responsible for helping employees feel comfortable discussing mental health at work.⁹ You can lead by example and speak about your own experiences with mental health, to help normalize the subject. If you are honest about your struggles, it can help your staff feel more comfortable coming to you with any of their own. Have regular check-ins with your employees or add it as an agenda item in meetings to encourage staff to bring up any issues contributing negatively (or positively) to their workplace wellbeing.

Corporate Mental Health Programs

Supporting employee mental health has never been so important. Corporate mental health programs offer support to workers in different ways to help them manage stress, mental health challenges, and pressure that come with the demands of work life. Organizational support for mental wellness can be shown through some of the following programs:

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): These offer confidential support to employees by connecting them with therapists who can give them help for their mental health.
Mental Health Awareness Training: This training helps to reduce stigma, increase understanding of mental health issues, and create a healthier and more empathic workplace.
On-site Mental Health Services: Some companies offer therapy sessions or support groups in the workplace, meaning employees don’t need to leave the site to receive support.
Flexible Work Arrangements: These can help reduce stress for staff who have childcare responsibilities or medical appointments to attend.
Mental Health Apps: These can provide self-help tools for your employees to access, 24/7.
Stress Management Programs: Stress management or mindfulness programs can promote well-being and help individuals manage their stress levels.
Physical Health and Well-Being Programs: These can include gym memberships, nutrition counseling, yoga classes, and meditation rooms, to help keep your employees healthy all-round.

Support Your Workforce’s Wellbeing With Mission Connection

At Mission Connection, we can support your workforce’s well-being. With our services tailored to meet the needs of your employees, we will help your staff to thrive. Some of the services we offer include:

24/7 Telehealth Lines: Allowing your employees to receive immediate care whenever they need it.
Multiple Therapy Approaches: For one-to-one and group therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused therapy, mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
Online talk therapy: Your employees can access the therapy they need, wherever they are. It’s important to know that therapist licensing restrictions mean that we can’t offer these services in some U.S. states. Please call us at 866-708-3828 for further guidance.

Reach Out for Workplace Wellbeing Services Today

Using the strategies we’ve discussed on this page can help your organization promote mental well-being in your workplace. Here at Mission Connection, we can help you provide effective support to your employees, allowing them to thrive.

We know that mental health affects everyone differently – that’s why we offer a range of treatment approaches tailored to help individuals in exactly the way they need that support. We offer

Short-term inpatient stays
Partial hospitalization
Intensive outpatient programs
Outpatient services like online therapy, mindfulness therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy

To find out how we can help you, reach out today to book a free consultation.

References

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