If you have ever searched for something related to mental health like “why is mental health important?” You probably found a dizzying array of information, but before you typed the first few letters of that question, you already knew the answer, didn’t you?
On a visceral level, we know that mental health is important and we know why.
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You or someone you care about is struggling…
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Mental health is important because it is personal….
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Mental health is important for overall well-being…
One such aspect is mental health in the workplace.
Why is mental health important in the workplace?
“We live and work, often in the same space. So isn’t it natural that we bring our emotions to work and vice versa?” 72% of employers say stress and burnout are concerns for their organization and 84% of employees experience at least one mental health issue in the recent past according to a study by Metlife, November 2021.
Whose responsibility is it?
Mental health has become a growing concern in the workplace since the pandemic began. Gone are the days when it was just a tick in the box. It is on everyone’s mind these days as it has become a necessity and it is no longer good to have one.
“Whose responsibility is it? The leaders? The employees? But aren’t we all?
Each of us plays a vital role in driving wellness in every area of our lives. A leader is an enabler of emotional well-being services in the workplace and we must all promote it together by being an ally.
I believe modeling is an important form of support and advocacy to drive mental health and emotional well-being in the workplace. It starts at the top of the hierarchy, allowing you to model transparency and extend accessibility.
How can I be an ally?
If one of your co-workers has returned to work after breaking their leg, there is less room to think twice about the support you would provide to make their life comfortable at work. We are not sure when it comes to helping someone with a mental health problem.
Simple but effective: having the right knowledge helps us listen to someone who is going through emotional distress. Being empathetic, compassionate and with a nonjudgmental attitude can help us, help someone who needs that support. I have learned and understood being with 1to1help serving over 800 PAN India clients, about the number of people in need of help and the number of people in need of helping someone is second to none.
Although the alliance is important and the need of the moment, so is taking care of oneself. This can make a big difference in your mental health, at work and beyond. These are also aspects of your life that you have more control over than many things. The more effort you put into self-care, the better you’ll feel and the stronger the alliance will be.
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