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According to a recent NAMI Workplace Mental Health Poll, people who are less comfortable talking about their mental health at work are more likely to report feeling burnout. More than half of the members polled reported feeling burned out in the past year, with 37% of members reporting difficulty in their jobs due to feeling emotionally overwhelmed.
Organizational leaders are positioned to create positive work environments, but conversations around mental health at work can be challenging to navigate. Approaching a member about issues of mood and mental health can be tricky, even anxiety-producing for organizational leaders. Despite being a challenging topic, openness about mental health in the workplace can improve the well-being of members, as well as increase productivity in the workplace.
How Leaders Can Approach Mental Health at Work
- Communicate about mental health and well-being. Tools such as stress reduction training, articles, and videos on the topic of mental health can open the door to future communication on the topic. Leaders can schedule Assistance Program staff to conduct educational trainings on topics such as Mental Health in the Workplace, The Future of Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder, or Mental Illness: Busting the Myths. Inviting this content into the workspace can be part of creating a positive workplace culture. In addition, your members may feel more comfortable asking for help for themselves or a fellow member.
- Inform your members about their mental health insurance benefits. When members know what resources are available to them, they are more likely to self-refer for treatment and support. This often leads to members addressing their mental health symptoms before chronic and pervasive performance or attendance problems begin.
- Promote your Assistance Program. If you are unsure how to do so, please reach out to your Account Manager for ideas and resources. According to NAMI, 51% of members say they would utilize a service to support their mental health if the services offered were free, confidential, and independent from their employer.
When members understand how their Assistance Program works, they are more likely to use this benefit. It is also important to know that this benefit also provides work-life resources and referrals, when appropriate, in addition to counseling. Receiving resources and referrals to address underlying sources of stress can bolster the efficacy of your Assistance Program counseling.
- Talk to members one-on-one about your concerns. Changes in performance, attendance, attitude, and presentation are opportunities to express genuine concern for the member and remind them about their resources, such as your Assistance Program. If you are unsure how to have this conversation, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Assistance Program for suggestions and support.
Your Assistance Program also includes support for those in leadership roles. You can reach out to your Account Manager for one-on-one consulting services and professional guidance on how to support people who may be experiencing mental health concerns or other work-life challenges.
If you need additional assistance, AllOne Health provides Organizational Consulting, with programs that help develop leaders, create high-functioning teams, develop equitable and inclusive cultures, and resolve volatile situations. To learn more, check out Organizational Consulting.
