World Mental Health Day
Today, we celebrate World Mental Health Day and focus on specifically mental health at workspaces, providing 5 ways to prioritize employee mental health.
World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to remind us that everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence, and inclusion in the community. Mental Health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.
World Mental Health Day serves as an occasion for individuals and communities to rally around the theme “Mental health as an inherent human entitlement.” It aims to enhance awareness, knowledge, and actions that advocate for and safeguard mental well-being as a fundamental human right for all people.
The day allows us to improve knowledge, raise awareness, and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a human right. But it is also an opportunity to think about mental health in different areas of life, such as working spaces.
Employee mental health is important
For many of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work. The average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. It’s safe to say your job can significantly impact your quality of life – because how we spend our days is how we spend our lives.
On this World Mental Health Day, we focus on employee mental health as one way of raising awareness on issues promoting mental health. Prioritizing employee mental health in the workplace is crucial for fostering a healthy work environment. Here, we provide a few steps to implement to prioritize employee mental health at offices.
5 ways to prioritize employee mental health
Mental health awareness and mindfulness
Provide mental health training and mindfulness sessions to employees and managers. Ensure that employee understands mental health issues, how to recognize signs, and how to handle signs. And make sure that there is a supportive atmosphere where it is possible to share feelings and talk about issues.
Design of workspace
Create a mentally healthy office space with thoughtful design and consideration for the well-being of employees. Prioritize natural light and green plants to boost mood and reduce stress. Choose calming colors for walls and decor, and provide good ergonomic furniture for physical comfort. Allow and encourage personalization of workspaces to give a sense of comfort and belonging. Cleanliness is a must and minimizes stress.
Healthy food and snacks
Healthy food, lunch, and snacks at workspaces are essential for employee mental health. The reason for this is that they provide the necessary nutrients to support cognitive function, concentration, and mood stability. Proper nutrition not only enhances energy levels and productivity but also helps in stress reduction. All of that positively impacts overall well-being and job satisfaction.
Going for daily walks
Going for daily walks can significantly improve employees’ mental health. They do this by offering a break from the work environment, reducing stress levels, and promoting physical activity. Walks are an opportunity for relaxation, fresh air, change of scenery, and conversations about non-work-related stuff, helping employees clear their minds and recharge. This enhances their overall well-being and productivity. Consider planning walks after lunch, as this improves digestion, helps regulate blood sugar, and boosts energy ideally.
Social events
Social events at workspaces are essential for employee mental health as they foster a sense of belonging and friendship among colleagues, reducing feelings of isolation and stress. These events provide opportunities for interaction, laughter, meaningful conversations, understanding, and relaxation, helping to create a more supportive and enjoyable work environment and contributing to improved overall well-being.
This list is not exhaustive in securing employee mental health and well-being, and there is so much more to ensure employee mental health in the long term. However, the list can provide inspiration on how to prioritize mental health in workspaces even more. There is always somewhere to start and something to improve.
If any of these initiatives are not part of your workspace operations, consider implementing them or start planning around implementing them in the near future. Employee mental health affects people’s lives significantly, and everyone deserves a healthy working environment that prioritizes mental health.
Thank you for reading
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