Leading up to and during the pandemic, OHS studies have determined that mental health is a much bigger issue than we all might think. One in four adults will experience mental illness in their lifetime, with one in five teenagers also experiencing mental illness. The workplace is no exception. While many employers have increased efforts to address mental health issues, there are still some who are reluctant to do so. This is often due to the stigma around the workplace. This leads to the growth of a silent epidemic that has the potential to affect employees’ productivity, retention rates, and health and safety. Here’s some advice on how to improve your own team’s mental health and safety in order to prevent this silent epidemic from spreading.
Mental Health and safety in the Workplace
Mental health is a huge issue in the workplace, with the World Health Organization estimating that over 80% of mental illnesses are caused or worsened by work. One in four adults will experience some form of mental illness during their lifetime. The problem here is that employers may not be taking this as seriously as they should. In fact, more than half of managers don’t believe they’re equipped to handle the health and safety issues of their employees in the workplace, and a quarter said they feel it’s not their responsibility. This has led to a silent epidemic – one where employees are struggling with mental health issues but never seek help because their employer doesn’t want to talk about it.
Safe work Australia has released many new materials and data, allowing workers to seek help and break the stigma of mental health.
The Silent Epidemic Is Growing
The silent epidemic is growing. One in four adults will experience mental illness, and one in five teenagers will. It’s important to note that this isn’t just a problem for the individual; it has the potential to affect employees’ productivity, retention rates, and ohs.
Employers who are reluctant to address mental health issues might be putting their team at risk of a number of problems. Take workplace violence as an example: a 2014 survey found that 7% of people with severe psychosocial distress experienced workplace violence. This means that there is a link between mental illness and violent behaviour at work or school.
When employers neglect these issues, they might be unknowingly playing a dangerous game: the silent epidemic is growing, and it has real consequences for workers and employers alike. Unknowingly, employees and employers both may be both contravening new WHS legislation in regard to providing a safety workplace through reasonable care.
What You Can Do to Improve Your Team’s Mental Health and safety
No one should have to deal with mental illness alone. However, for many people that’s a reality. But this doesn’t have to be the case for your team.
There are plenty of ways to improve your team’s mental health at work. Here are some recommended steps to follow:
- Create a culture of openness – it’s important to make sure your team is feeling comfortable talking about their feelings and their mental health without feeling like they’re burdening anyone else or being singled out as different.
- Introduce mindfulness practices – there are many benefits of practicing mindfulness in the workplace, including improved focus, less stress, and reduced anxiety.
- Emphasize self-care – make sure employees take time for themselves and don’t allow themselves to get overwhelmed by their workloads or responsibilities. It’s important especially for those who already struggle with mental illness. We all need a break from our jobs sometimes!
- Encourage an open dialogue about mental health – you can start by holding meetings where your team discusses how they’re feeling periodically so everyone knows what others are going through at any given time. If someone is struggling, it’s easier for them to open up about it when they know other people are going through similar things and will understand them better than someone who has never experienced mental illness before.
Conclusion
The mental health epidemic is an issue that affects many people, including those in the workplace. Workers who struggle with mental health issues often feel like they can’t be open about it because of the stigma and potential consequences. There are a lot of things you can do to improve your team’s mental health. This includes working with your team to help them understand the importance of mental health, and providing resources for them when they need it. Resources include mental health awareness training by specialist safety consultants such as Safetec Safety Solutions, or a safety culture analysis.
The most important thing you can do is to create a culture that makes mental health a priority. This creates an environment where workers feel comfortable talking openly about their mental health and safety concerns.
