Mental Health At Work: HR’s Role In Supporting Employees

At work, we all have days where we feel overwhelmed, lacking motivation or just feel completely drained. It’s normal, even in jobs that we enjoy and are happy in most of the time.

Work itself can become a challenge when deadlines start piling up and inboxes are flooded first thing in the morning. Now add personal difficulties like health issues or family stress to the mix. It’s a recipe for disaster.

It’s no surprise that when employees are struggling with their mental health, their productivity will naturally take a dive. Given that this directly impacts the business, it’s crucial for companies to start prioritising their employees’ wellbeing. And HR has a major role to play in this.

 

 

Why Mental Health At Work Matters

 

Mental health is overlooked a lot of the time, but it influences the way we think, act and feel. It also greatly affects the way people deal with stressful situations and make decisions. So if somebody is struggling mentally, it’s easy to see why it would spill over into the different areas of their lives including work.

In fact, the World Health Organisation reported that depression and anxiety cost the global economy around $1 trillion every year due to lost productivity. Another survey showed that employees who feel unsupported at work are more likely to be disengaged at work and take a lot of time off, even possibly quitting altogether.

So given the serious nature of these statistics, it’s evident that mental health is not solely a personal issue. It’s very much a business one too.

 

Where Does HR Come In?

 

A company’s Human Resources department is equally as responsible for their employees’ wellbeing as they are for setting out policies and paperwork.

It’s up to HR departments to outline what the company culture should look like. And more importantly, to ensure that every employee feels supported and part of that culture.

Just having an open-door policy where employees can come in and express their struggles can go a long way in creating a healthy work environment.

 

 

How Can HR Support Employees And Their Mental Health?

 

It’s been proven time and time again that when employees are mentally healthy, they can perform at their best. They’re more engaged, more creative and invested in the company and its goals. In other words, they’re less likely to run out the door when things get tough.

So how can HR teams take a proactive approach to mental wellness? Let’s get into it.

 

Create A Culture Of Openness

 

The first step, and probably the most critical one, in supporting mental health is letting employees know that it’s very much okay to talk about it. Most people won’t share how they feel and what they are experiencing because they’re afraid to be judged or ignored.

It’s really up to HR to create an environment of safety where everyone can feel comfortable to discuss their struggles. Whether it’s celebrating things like World Mental Health Day or getting top management to share their own experiences, it creates an inclusive environment where vulnerability is welcomed.

 

Teach Managers To See The Warning Signs

 

A lot of employees feel that management don’t seem to understand their struggles with mental health or even worse, don’t care about it. In reality, managers haven’t actually been trained to pick up the signs of struggle. And if they can’t see it, they definitely can’t do anything about it.

However, HR teams can do things like running workshops on signs of distress such as missing deadlines and irritability and teach them how to have the supportive conversations.

Managers are usually the first line of defence so it’s crucial for them to know how to respond accurately.

 

Offer Access To Support And Resources

 

When an employee does approach HR with an issue, it’s so important to have helpful resources on-hand. Nowadays, a lot of companies are offering to pay for mental health treatment as part of their health insurance plans to let employees know they have real support.

Additionally, there are loads of mental wellness apps out there that HR can encourage employees to use. These will give them direct access to support tools and guides on managing stress.

 

Provide Flexible Work Environments

 

The traditional 9-to-5 “always at your desk” culture is starting to fade and it’s really not a bad thing. Employees want flexibility and a healthy work-life balance and it’s up to HR to enforce that. It all comes down to when people feel like they are more in control, they’re less likely to burnout.

Whether it’s flexible working hours or hybrid setups with wellness rooms at the office, people want to be in an environment where they can do their best but without sacrificing their mental health.

 

Listen And Regularly Check In

 

Waiting for an employee to approach first for help isn’t always the best strategy. It’s on HR to regularly check in with employees through anonymous mental health surveys and monitor things like absenteeism to spot the signs early on.

This way, preventative measures can be taken before the issue becomes worse down the line.

Essentially, it’s HR’s role to lead the way in creating supportive environments and giving employees the best chance at performing while staying mentally healthy.