FOSTERING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE

MENTAL ILLNESS HAS BECOME A DAILY PRESCENCE IN TODAY’S HEADLINES AND THE ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSES WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME – IN THE WORKPLACE.

EMPLOYERS ARE IN A GREAT PLACE TO MAKE A POSITIVE AND LASTING DIFFERENCE

BUSINESS NEEDS ARE MET, PROFITS INCREASED AND LEGISLATION ADHERED TO WHEN WE FOSTER GOOD MENTAL HEALTH IN ALL EMPLOYEES

LINK YOUR EFFORTS TO PURPOSE & VALUES

• WHEN EMPLOYEES FEEL THAT CHANGES IN HOW A COMPANY APPROACHES MENTAL HEALTH THEY WILL BE MOTIVATED AND ENERGIZED.

• INDIVIDUAL’S UNDERSTAND HOW PERSONAL THIS IS AND TRULY VALUE ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT.

• THERE WILL BE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OVERALL COMMUICATION AMONGST STAFF..

• THERE WILL BE OPENNESS AND FEEDBACK ON HOW ALL POLICIES/PROCEDURES ARE ACCEPTED AMONGST EMPLOYEES.

MAKE SURE LEADERS SET THE EXAMPLE

• HOW DO LEADERS IN YOUR COMPANY COPE WITH STRESS ?

• A LEADER WTH A BALANCED, HEALTHY LIFE WILL COMMUNICATE BETTER WITH THEIR TEAM.

• THIS WILL REDUCE ABSENTEE RATES.

• STUDIES FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY SHOW THAT EMPLOYEES WHO BELIEVE THEY HAVE HAPPY LEADERS ARE 52% MORE ENGAGED IN THEIR WORK.

CREATE A MULTI YEAR PLAN

• A LONG TERM PLAN IS ESSENTIAL

• THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES ENGAGE WITH THEIR STAFF AND REQUEST INFORMATION FROM THEM.

• A REGULAR ASSESSMENT OF WHAT CAN BE CHANGED WILL ACHIEVE GREAT RESULTS.

• PROGRAMMES AND RESOURCES CAN BE FORMAL AND ANONYMOUS.

IDENTIFY MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPIONS

• SOMEONE WHO HAS POWER TO SHAPE HOW ORGANISATION IS RUN

• HELPFUL TO HAVE DESIGNATED HELPERS AT EACH LEVEL OF ORGANISATION

• 1 IN 4 ADULTS SUFFER WITH A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE SO ALL STAFF WILL BE AWARE OF ISSUE.

• COMMUNICATION AS TO HOW AND WHY CHANGES TAKING PLACE KEY TO SUCCESS

TEACH MANAGERS/TEAM HOW TO ASK

• “ARE YOU OK?”

• LISTEN WITHOUT JUDGMENT

• ENCOURAGE ACTION

• FOLLOW UP

TARGET HIGH RISK EMPLOYEES/KNOW THE SIGNS• INCREASED ABSENCE

• MISSING DEADLINES

• LESS COMMUNICATIVE

• DECREASE IN OVERALL PERFORMANCE

CREATE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES & RESOURCES• FORMAL

• INFORMAL

• ANONYMOUS

• SHORT 5 MINUTE RELAXATION/MEDITATION TO REDUCE ANXIETY AND STRESS

• WEEKLY INFORMAL BREAKFAST/LUNCH/COFFEE BREAK FOR STAFF TO ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER

MONITOR PROGRESS & SHARE SUCCESS STORIES

• WHAT GETS MEASURED GETS MANAGED.• THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS• ITS SEEMS DAUNTING BUT IT WILL ADD TO SUCCESS OF COMPANY• ENGAGEMENT, LOYALTY AND PRODUCTIVITY = PROFIT• PREVENTS UNECESSARY & COSTLY DISPUTES

WIRRAL MIND RUN ALL PROGRAMMES ON FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES FOR THOSE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

• HOPEFULNESS• PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY• LEARNING• SELF ADVOCACY• SUPPORT