Employees are the heart and soul of a business, so they deserve an environment in which they feel valued, supported, and like they belong. This makes workplace mental health support integral for all organisations, regardless of their size or mission.
Promoting employee wellbeing can benefit both individuals and organisations in a number of different ways, including by:
But every organisation and employee is unique, which means that creating employee well-being programs that support everyone involved can be a challenge. PsychWrite can act as your organisational partner in improving mental wellbeing, workplace relationships, and the overall ethos.
As professionals in mental health and training programs, on this page, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of employee mental health support programs. This includes why mental health at work matters, how workplace support can make a difference, and strategies for improving employee wellbeing in the workplace.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 60% of the world’s population is employed. When a workplace environment is fulfilling and collaborative, it works to support our wellbeing, as it provides us with…1
Further, if people have a mental health condition, a positive workplace can be protective, as it contributes to social functioning, self-belief, and recovery.1
But what if someone’s workplace is stressful or lacks reward and fulfilment? In this case, employment can be damaging to both mental and physical health. For instance, research shows that:
Further, while psychosocial workplace risks such as those mentioned can impact anyone from any professional environment, people with mental health conditions may be more at risk. Specifically, they have a higher possibility of financial insecurity, inequality in the workplace, and job loss. Each of these factors contributes to the risk of suicide.1
All of the information discussed works to highlight the importance of staff mental health and wellbeing solutions. But how do the benefits of these work in practice?
Employee wellness programs don’t just benefit the individual; they also benefit on an organisational level. Let’s begin with how they support employee wellbeing.
A recent global Wellcome Trust report showed that workplace interventions have a overall positive effect on general mental health. Further, the report demonstrated that approaches designed to address issues like anxiety and depression in the workplace can have the following effects:6
However, these aren’t the only benefits on an employee level. Systematic reviews show that psychosocial workplace interventions, including those that target workload, social support, and the workplace climate, improved both mental and physical health. This resulted in reduced absences, benefiting productivity on a personal and organisational level.7
To put these findings simply, robust employee well-being programs can foster a culture of trust, flexibility, and respect – and a return of productivity. In fact, a recent report from Oxford University showed that companies that score higher on employee wellbeing reports have a higher valuation, profit, and return on investments.
So the findings are clear: Mental health programs for employees can create a better individual experience and drive organisational success.
But no two organisations are the same, meaning that employers often struggle to know where to start when implementing wellbeing programs. This is where bespoke employee wellness programs can be instrumental, as they can be tailored to your company’s specific needs and goals.
Corporate mental health services often benefit from a hierarchy of controls framework, which establishes clear guidelines for organisational structure and accountability. Professional workplace support services can help organisations establish this hierarchy by eliminating harmful practices, substituting them with healthy ones, and redesigning the workplace mental health ethos.8
With a professional, tailored approach, the following professional programs and strategies can help your organisation boost wellbeing, morale, motivation, and productivity.
An employee assistance program (EAP) is a workforce-focused program designed to identify and resolve employee concerns or problems that may be impacting performance and productivity. For this reason, EAP services should be bespoke to the needs of an organisation and its employees.
EAP strategy development can take on a quantitative and qualitative approach to identifying employee concerns, such as psychological tests, feedback forms, and interviews. By doing so, effective programs and strategies can be put in place to improve wellbeing and productivity, such as workplace mental health policies.
Recent research shows that approximately one-third of the UK workforce has mental health issues.9 As we know, these issues can increase absenteeism and employee turnover rates, as well as decrease an organisation’s public perception. Therefore, mental health first-aid is typically the first active step businesses take to improve mental health awareness and reduce stigma around seeking support.
Mental health first-aid training can ensure that everyone involved in a workforce feels comfortable discussing their wellbeing without fear of repercussion.
Training typically targets both supervisors and employees, and aims to…
Resilience is the ability to adapt or cope with challenges or stress – but not by avoiding it. Instead, employees can learn how to develop skills to manage negativity and grow stronger while doing so. It’s about sustaining performance in healthy ways each day.
Resilience training can:
Stress is an inevitable part of every job role and workforce – and, in healthy levels, can even motivate us to perform. But when stress becomes chronic, it can cause overwhelm, an inability to problem-solve, increased absenteeism, workplace conflicts, and overall dissatisfaction.
Employee stress management programs employ evidence-based strategies such as mindfulness training, interpersonal conflict resolution skills, and workload management techniques. When these programs are personalised to an organisation’s needs, the entire ecosystem can thrive.
Protecting and promoting mental health at work is about allowing employees to feel valued, seen, and supported. Plus, when an organisation fosters better well-being, they’re more likely to thrive and succeed.
Whether your organisation needs guidance on effective employee assistance programs or practical employee support programs training, PsychWrite can help. Our team is not just specialists in workplace wellbeing; each member is a trained mental health professional. So our approach is always evidence-based, solution-focused, and flexible.
We can help your organisation identify any potential concerns through quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as design effective staff support services to improve the entire ethos.
Contact our team today if you’re ready to discuss how we can help your employees and organisation thrive.
