It’s time to prioritise your mental health

October 2024 PayPlan Blog #1

World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on October 10th. Each year, the World Federation of Mental Health chooses a different theme to raise awareness on important topics. This year’s theme is “It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.”
This theme focuses on the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace to benefit people, organisations and communities.
World Mental Health Day provides a great opportunity for peers to come together to talk about mental health and highlight why prioritising mental health matters. Talking about mental health and the challenges that our friends, family and colleagues face helps us to cope better with the ups and downs of day-to-day life.

How does mental health affect the workplace?

Many of us spend a huge proportion of our lives at work. Work can have both positive and negative effects on our mental health. On the positive side, work can provide a sense of purpose, opportunities to connect with others, and a boost to our morale. On the other hand, it can also bring stress, especially when juggling deadlines or feeling overwhelmed by a heavy workload. For those already dealing with mental health challenges, work may add to these struggles.
This is why it’s so important for workplaces to prioritise mental health support. By doing so, they can help their team enjoy the positive aspects of work while reducing its potential downsides.

How can you support mental health at work?
Supporting mental health at work is essential for creating a positive and productive environment. Whether you’re an employer or a colleague, small steps can make a big difference.
Encouraging open communication is key. You can start conversations about mental health and ensure employees feel safe sharing their concerns without fear of judgment. This helps build a supportive culture where employees feel comfortable reaching out for help.
Workload management is another important aspect. Make sure tasks are reasonable and deadlines aren’t overwhelming. To help prevent burnout, we recommend encouraging breaks and promoting a work-life balance. Simple things like offering flexible hours or remote working options can greatly reduce stress, especially for employees who have to work around childcare challenges.
Having workplace mental health support available during working hours and outside of work can also be supportive for your employees. Offering counselling services or employee assistance programs (EAPs) can give employees the professional support they need and provide a confidential way for them to open up without the worry of colleagues finding out. You can also hold awareness days for charities that support mental health so that employees have increased awareness of support that is available for them within work and outside of work.

Lastly, showing appreciation by recognising employees’ efforts, even with small gestures, boosts morale and creates a positive atmosphere. When people feel valued, they’re more likely to thrive.

What you can do next
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