Work affects mental health. Whether it’s the stress of a demanding job, long office hours, constant travel, or the stress of juggling a career, family, and personal life, mental health can be negatively impacted by work. Work and mental health are not always synonymous, however. The importance of a healthy work-life balance and avoiding overwork is critical to maintaining good mental health.
Mental health issues in the workplace are a growing concern, affecting employees and employers. When mental health issues go untreated, they can have a negative impact on the productivity and morale of a business. However, companies and organizations are now recognizing mental health benefits in the workplace. Here we look at the possible causes and possible solutions.
What causes mental health problems in the workplace?
Mental health issues in the workplace are extremely common and can usually be prevented. According to the CDC, mental health problems in the workplace aren’t a new concept-according to the CDC, as many as 40 million American adults have a diagnosable mental disorder. But the prevalence of mental health issues is rapidly increasing in our younger workforce, particularly among those under the age of 25. Work-related stress can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
Excessive workload
Work can be stressful, but if you’re an employee constantly bombarded with more and more work and unconcerned with the people around you, your mental health may be at risk. People who work excessive hours on a daily basis are more susceptible to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress-even those without a personal history of mental health problems.
This is particularly why taking every measure possible to manage the symptoms of stress is immensely important. If the work is too taxing, consider a switch to a workplace that can offer a better environment. In case that doesn’t seem like an immediate possibility, consider making active lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy, meditating, or taking CBD products. Since CBD is believed to be a potent stress reliever, it can do wonders for your case. If interested, opt for weed delivery at your home from a reputed online store or a local dispensary and try it yourself.
Poor pay
Poor working conditions can be a huge contributor to mental health issues in the workplace. Ill-paid jobs are especially likely to lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, stress, depression, and anxiety frequently occur among adults who work either part-time or more than 40 hours a week.
Poor pay and poor working conditions are two of the leading causes of mental health problems in the workplace. In some cases, workers may already have mental health conditions that lead to them getting fired. In other cases, workers may be fired because it has become clear that they have mental health issues.
Work relationships
Work relationships are complex, often confusing, and not always easy. It’s important to know your coworkers and treat them with respect. But workers often struggle with managing their feelings toward coworkers. This is especially true in workplaces where there are employees with mental health concerns.
Organization culture
The work environment-workplace culture-is another big factor that contributes to mental health issues. Business culture plays a crucial role in any business. However, many business owners don’t realize it. If the workplace has poor working conditions such as lack of hygiene, inadequate health and safety measures, occupational stress, workplace politics, and other issues, it could affect employees’ mental health and ability to achieve their full potential. In some cases, if employees are worried about their safety in the office due to the lack of proper guidelines, it can cause more stress and increase the chances of accidents. That is why, it is essential that employers provide appropriate safety tools and equipment to the staff, perhaps bought from a website similar to unigloves.co.uk to ease worries in the workplace. Additionally, provide staff a means to voice their opinions and issues so that you can improve employee retention strategies and maintain healthy and happy working conditions.
What Owners can do to improve their employee’s mental health?
For many of us, work is a major source of stress. According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 40 percent of workers report experiencing stress on the job. This is accompanied by 25 percent reporting high stress. This stress can be debilitating, leading to depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Sure, solutions do exist in the form of mindfulness exercises, talk therapy, CBD products (those interested may wish to look at CBD crumble as an example), and a lot more, but awareness around the issue of workplace stress is still limited. Employers need to be more aware of the signs of stress and how to address them. It’s also imperative that organizations create a workplace environment that is conducive to employees’ mental well-being. That being the case, let’s take a look at some of the steps employers can take to reduce workplace stress and prevent mental issues from occurring.
Here are four things employers can do:
Create a Safety and Healthy Workplace
Employees who feel psychologically safe at work are more likely to stay at their jobs. While this can be difficult to achieve, many managers and employers take on the task in an objective way. They may implement a multifaceted strategy, which may include conducting tests for Safety Critical Medicals, workplace safety audits, and much more. When workers are assured a healthy environment to work in through company protocols, they are likelier to seek feedback, follow through on commitments, and meet deadlines. This facilitates a better and healthier relationship between employers and their employees.
Create a Safe Space for Employees to Discuss Mental Health Issues
Your employees may be suffering in silence from mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, and asking the wrong question or speaking out the wrong way could cost them their job. But with a bit of preparation, you can make sure employees know it’s safe to discuss mental health problems.
Offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
If your business is like most, some employees have problems with work, their job, personal issues, or just life in general. Whether your employee has a problem, offering an employee assistance program (EAP) is a great way to provide your employees with help when they need it most.
Allow Your Employee the Flexibility They Need
With so many employees struggling to keep up with work responsibilities due to health issues, it’s important to give workers the flexibility they need to deal with health issues.
