With R U OK Day coming up on Thursday, 12 September, we thought it would be a great time to look at the importance of mental health awareness in the workplace.
What is mental health awareness in the workplace?
Simply put, mental health awareness means recognising the mental health needs of your employees and colleagues and taking steps to understand and address them. This usually involves nurturing a supportive environment where mental health can be openly discussed. Providing access to resources and support will play an important part in making this environment possible.
Strategies to promote mental health awareness at work
Invest in mental health awareness training
Providing mental health awareness training for your staff and leadership team is a great way to bring everyone onto the same page at the same time. Generally, this training will teach you and your team how to recognise the signs of mental health difficulties, empathise with your colleagues, and build an organisation-wide culture of support and understanding.
Taking part in mental health training is also a great way for management to lead by example and show their commitment to building a welcoming and inclusive workplace. It sends a clear message to your team that you believe in the importance of mental well-being and that you’re someone they can talk to about it.
Promote work-life balance
A study across seven cultures found that work-life balance is positively correlated with increased work and life satisfaction. It’s also associated with decreased anxiety and depression. Supporting a solid work-life balance for your employees is going to be crucial to creating a culture where mental health is taken seriously.
There are many ways to promote work-life balance in the workplace. Encouraging flexible working arrangements, normalising mental health days and organising wellness programs all send a clear sign to your employees that you value their well-being and are committed to nurturing it. For example, you may organise a wellness event where employees are taught how to integrate mindfulness practices into their daily routines.
The right office environment also goes a long way towards encouraging work-life balance. Modern facilities and the freedom to customise your space based on your needs can make the ideal workplace a reality. For example, at Central Park, our tenant-only 24/7 fitness centre can help you seamlessly fit exercise and physical well-being into your working day, while our End of Trip facilities make it easier than ever to trade the car for a bike or running shoes on your daily commute.
Keep communication channels open
Open communication is the foundation of mental health awareness in the workplace. Try to cultivate a working environment where mental health is discussed regularly and freely. This could take the form of day-to-day conversations, regular check-ins during one-on-one or team meetings, or office-wide mental health workshops.
For employees who may want to talk about their mental health with a professional, ensure these resources are available. For example, it’s best practice to give your employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) where they can talk to counsellors about any mental health difficulties they’re experiencing in the workplace. It’s also a great idea to make sure your employees are aware of other mental health hotlines and support resources they can access if they need to.
Mental health awareness at Central Park
The benefits of practising mental health awareness in the workplace are vast. Not only do employees enjoy a more welcoming and supportive working environment, but there’s also a strong correlation between workplace satisfaction, improved productivity and reduced staff turnover.
As R U OK Day approaches, it serves as a timely reminder of just how critical our mental well-being is.
At Central Park, we pride ourselves on providing premium office spaces and cutting-edge facilities that make it easy for you to build your ideal work environment and nurture your team’s mental well-being. Enquire about leasing today.