How Can HR and Employers Support Mental Health in the Workplace?

Step 1 - Recognise Mental Health Awareness: The first step is to recognise the gaps that are stimulating mental constraints in employees. Awareness is the first initiative to learn the signs of stress in employees.

Step 2 - Address the Issues: The next step is to address the issues that your employees are vocal about and also address the underlying non-vocal issues like burnout and tight deadlines that get covered in responsibilities concerning employees' mental health.

Step 3 - Work-Life Balance: An equilibrated work-life balance acts as a wonder for both employers and employees. A happy employee tends to be more efficient in working as their focus doesn’t drift towards out-of-office ongoing. Hence, it is important for HR professionals to frame policies and procedures that would suit the mental health and well-being of the employees and contribute to work-life balance.

Step 4 - Reduce Stigma: HR leaders can play a crucial role in reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues by promoting open dialogue, providing resources, and implementing anti-discrimination policies.

Step 5 - Accommodating Diverse Needs: Employees have diverse mental health needs, and HR leaders can ensure that the workplace accommodates these needs, whether it's providing flexibility, reasonable accommodations, or access to mental health resources.

Step 6 - Initiate Eaps and Support Programs: HR leaders often oversee Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and support services. These resources are valuable in assisting employees facing mental health challenges. So, support programs are required to be initiated frequently to keep a check on employees’ mental health and assist them in hailing out from mental stress and difficulties.

Step 7 - Promoting Mental Health Literacy:  Last but not least, promoting mental health literacy is highly essential for HR professionals to mitigate bullies and discrimination that are the consequence of less or negligible knowledge of mental health conditions.

Mental health is usually conceived as mental issues for which people discriminate against and bully the person facing so.

So, it is required from HR professionals to discuss in an open forum, workshops, or awareness programs on the mental health essentials, consequences, and assistance available to make the workplace a comfortable space for their employees to work efficiently and safely.

 

Being busy is part of our modern world. At work, employees often juggle multiple responsibilities, as they face growing demands on their time and attention. In this never-ending treadmill of busyness, it’s easy for individuals to neglect their mental health. 

Here’s where HR can step in to help promote employee mental wellness within organisations. In this article, we explore the various roles and responsibilities of HR professionals in employee mental health, along with action steps and strategic changes they can make to foster a positive work environment.