A recent survey found that nine out of ten workers are worried about burnout, the highest percentage ever recorded for workplace mental health concerns. This is not surprising to most HR professionals. Since the onset of COVID-19, it has been witnessed how poor employee mental health affects the workplace. Employee turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism all increase when mental health is an issue for workers. Mental health training has benefited organizations in ways other than dealing with the pandemic.
What are these workplace benefits?
Employees are more productive and engaged at work when they have the tools to manage their mental health, like internet based cognitive behavioral therapy. For human resources, mental health training programs improve organizational health and lower the costs associated with poor employee well-being. Employee stressors can be addressed through workplace mental health training before they impact your company’s morale, your employees’ overall well-being and life satisfaction, and your bottom line. If your company cares about its employees’ mental health, you should learn more about the advantages of providing mental health training in the workplace.
Stigma-Reduction
Mental health training programs normalize stress, depression, and anxiety. Employees suffer less in silence when companies reduce mental health stigma. Concentrate on the whole person and link mental and physical health. Employees’ shame can be reduced by teaching them how to manage their well-being through a communication and change management therapy session. Employees are less likely to withdraw or disengage when they feel comfortable discussing their well-being at work.
Workplace mental health education programs should aim to reduce stigma. Employees are more likely to seek assistance when informed about their benefits and encouraged to use them. These programs can help clear misconceptions about EAPs and in-network therapy options.
Increased Productivity
Stress, anxiety, and depression can all be overwhelming. Employees’ productivity suffers as a result of mental health issues. Many people relieve stress by overeating or abusing drugs. This can have a long-term impact on a company’s morale and bottom line. According to WHO, mental health disorders cost the global economy a lot of money in lost productivity yearly.
Most HR departments believe an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) can help employees with mental health issues. Employees who use EAP are typically in crisis, and their performance has suffered. Workplace mental health training promotes stress reduction, lifestyle changes, and EAP use, preventing many employee mental health crises. Team members can maintain their well-being by identifying and managing job-related stressors with the help of mental health training programs. Training programs assist employees in managing their mental health to remain productive and engaged. Feel free to book a demo for more knowledge about the program.
Improve Company Culture
Most employees believe that their company’s culture should promote mental health. Implementing a mental health training program communicates to employees that your company is concerned about their well-being. A training program also reduces the stigma associated with mental illness and fosters a healthier work environment.
Employees become more invested when they believe their organization cares about their well-being. Psychological safety in the workplace is critical to developing a healthy company culture. Employees are more likely to share openly and be genuine without worrying about being rejected or facing the consequences if they feel psychologically safe at work.
Decreased Workplace Conflict
Well-being contributes to workplace conflict. When employees struggle with mental health, they can’t communicate well. Stress can make team members less able to work with coworkers. Pandemic stress and social injustice have created unhealthy divisions, increasing employee conflict. Poor employee well-being increases workplace conflict and reduces team conflict resolution. When employees have a mental health program at work, they learn valuable tools to manage it. These tools reduce stress, improve communication, and build team trust.
Better Employee Wellness
Organizations have always placed a premium on employee health and lowered healthcare costs. Employee wellness is incomplete when it focuses solely on physical health. Mental and physical health are inextricably linked. Stress weakens the immune system and promotes illness-causing inflammation. Providing employees with mental health management tools can improve long-term health outcomes. Workplace mental health can assist employees in developing healthier physical habits.