Mental Health in the Workplace

11/6/2016

|The workplace is where many people spend a large portion of their lives, and although the working conditions and environment may be different depending on the type of work being done, the importance of maintaining workers mental health remains the same.

So just how important is mental health in the workplace? It turns out it is very important for many different reasons. This article will explore the research on how workplace stress or psychological concerns can impact on an employee as well as some strategies and options to avoid workplace burn out.

What the Research Says

Many research studies have found that employees who are negatively impacted by psychological concerns have a decrease in overall productivity and an increase in the chance of injury and absenteeism from the workplace.

On the other hand, employees who practice self-care or utilize the available mental health services report lower levels of stress leading to a reduction in tardiness, termination and injury.

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"Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." ~ Dolly Parton

Some Questions

If you are currently employed by yourself or by an employer, ask yourself these questions:

How many times have you have felt mentally or emotionally exhausted while on the job?
Have you ever woken up in the morning before heading off to work and felt a wave of anxiety or dread wash over you?
Has there been a time (maybe more than once) that a co-worker or supervisor acted in an inappropriate or bullying manner towards you?
How did this impact you at the time? And now?

If you have an answer to any of these questions, it may be important to consider taking action to improve your well-being overall and at work. Luckily, there are actions you can take towards feeling better!

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has created the National Standard of Canada for the Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace #StandardCda (in short known as The Standard). There is also a guide to helping workplace management develop a step-by-step action plan at to increase mental health in the workplace. If your place of work does not have or adhere to a plan that recognizes the importance of a workers mental health, it might be an idea to bring it up at your next board meeting or quarterly review.

Check out a real-case example of The Standard being applied at the UBC-Okanagan Campus in Kelowna, British Columbia here and watch the video below for more information on the creation of The Standard and the recognition it has gained globally.

Ways to Enhance Your Well-being At Work

What steps can you take to improve your psychological health in the workplace? Good question! First, you might want to start a discussion with your coworkers, or create your own list of ways to promote and encourage mental well-being at work.

Consider posting this on the communal fridge in the lunchroom, or any high traffic common area. It can be motivating to hear how others take care of themselves, and to encourage your colleagues to share their strategies of self-care.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Take your breaks (all of them)
If you sit most of the time, take a walk around the office every 30 minutes to give your eyes a break and increase blood circulation
Keep hydrated (water is best but mixing up your drink selection can help)
Bring healthy snacks and pack your own lunch
Write out your frustrations in a journal
Organize social events with coworkers during lunchtime
Stretch or practice chair yoga
Learn to practice mindfulness at work
Take sick (or mental health) days off
Use an app to help work through stress
Talk with family, friends, or a therapist about how you're doing
Ask your employer to see if you have access to an Employee Assistance Program which may offer short-term counselling solutions