We're Not OK: 5 Ways To Address Mental Health Concerns In The Workplace Now
Addressing mental health concerns for employees is a top priority as a result of COVID-19.
The projections that the “normal life” of pre-pandemic may not return until the end of 2021—if ever—is causing enormous anxiety, affecting most everyone from a remote contract freelancer to a CEO of a global enterprise.
“The projections that the “normal life” of pre-pandemic may not return until the end of 2021—if ever—is causing enormous #anxiety, affecting most everyone. #workplacewellness”
“Are you OK?” is a question leaders can ask at the start of a Zoom conference call, but it no longer affords a simple, quick response.
Adding to the COVID era mental health burden for so many Black and Brown women is the profound injustices that target and impact BIPOC almost daily. The grand jury verdict from the Breonna Taylor murder are only the most recent of historic injustices. The ongoing inequities of COVID including fear, grief and anxiety, compound mental health concerns.
Following the Breonna verdict,” Yahoo! reports, “The lack of accountability was yet the latest blow to Black people’s mental and emotional wellness, spurring even more protests across the country. Many took to social media to express their frustration, including celebrities Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, LeBron James and more.”
This is an ongoing concern, only exacerbated by current culture and environment.
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics last week released new data surveying nearly 32,000 adults and 6,800 children across more than 33,000 households. The 2019 data shows “women were more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety than men, and more likely to receive counseling or therapy, or take prescription medication, to promote their mental health,” reports ABC News.
Mind Share Partners in its 2019 report on mental health in the workplace found that 60% of respondents reported symptoms of a mental health condition in the past year. That was pre-COVID-19.
“@MindShareOrg in its 2019 report on #mentalhealth in the #workplace found that 60% of respondents reported symptoms of a mental health condition in the past year. That was pre-COVID-19. ”
The Herald Democrat reports on the study, “The results were that less than 50% of people felt that employee mental health was a priority for the company. Not surprisingly, 86% thought the company culture should support employee mental health. Results of the study above point to an ongoing ‘generational shift’ in awareness, in that 50% of Millennials and 75% of GenZ’s reporting having left jobs for mental health reasons.”
Read more in Take The Lead on mental health awareness
Now more than six months into work shutdowns, layoffs, WFH mandates, job eliminations, economic and career insecurities, grief, health concerns and more, the urgency to address mental health concerns for employees, leaders and team members is critical.
“Now more than six months into work shutdowns, #layoffs, #WFH mandates, grief, health concerns and more, the urgency to address #mentalhealth concerns for #employees, leaders and team members is critical. ”
What COVID has exacerbated is not just stressful present conditions, but as the pandemic is unprecedented in scope and global reach, uncertainty rules.
“Qualtrics and SAP, an enterprise software and survey/feedback provider, studied over 2,700 employees from 10 industries in the United States in March and April,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Findings showed that people can adapt to change, but they cannot control their anxiety for the future—particularly about finances, personal lives and job security.”
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and COVID affects the trifecta of those major life concerns. A new national survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older shows 81% say as a result of the pandemic, it's more important than ever to make suicide prevention a national priority.
“September is #SuicidePreventionMonth, and COVID affects the trifecta of those major life concerns. #mentalhealth #youarenotalone #shatterthesilence”
The Harris Poll with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and Education Development Center, the survey data also show 52% report being more open to talking about mental health as a result of COVID-19.
Here are five ways you can be helpful to your colleagues, coworkers and team members, as well as to yourself.
Understand the severity of COVID’s impact. Be empathic, never dismissive. Know it is serious. “Depression, alcohol, other substance misuse and anxiety have all skyrocketed because of COVID,” says Sagar Parikh, M.D., professor of psychiatry and associate director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center. “It’s having an impact on the business bottom line because sick employees mean decreased productivity and increased accidents at work,” according to the University of Michigan Health Blog. “Mental health problems exist everywhere,” Parikh tells the Health Blog. “We know that in order to help people, we should go where they are rather than waiting for them to come to us.”
“Understand the severity of #COVID’s impact. Be empathic, never dismissive. Know it is serious. #health #supportiveworkplace #leadership”
Read more in Take The Lead on supportive workplaces
Exhaustion is real. Missing deadlines, forgetting about meetings or showing up late are all symptoms of this exhaustion and mental stress, not signs of indifference to the work. “In response to a recent survey that found more than 2 out of 5 U.S. workers feel emotionally drained, burned out or exhausted because of their job, the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation, One Mind at Work and Psych Hub have teamed up to launch the Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace initiative,” according to Benefits Pro. Address the mental health concerns with these resources and understand the connection to productivity. “Nearly one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness in a normal year. When mental health is ignored in the workplace, it can lead to lower engagement. In fact, personal and family health problems have led to productivity losses equivalent to $225.8 billion annually–and that’s before COVID-19.”
“#Exhaustion is real. Missing deadlines, forgetting about meetings or showing up late are all symptoms of this exhaustion and #mentalstress, not signs of indifference to the work.”
Don’t make jokes about mental health. If you casually exclaim, “She’s nuts!” or complain that you are “going crazy” or “losing my mind,” and make derogatory comments about people “acting crazy,” you establish your disregard for the seriousness of mental health. You reinforce the stigma and shame surrounding mental health concerns. No one would rightfully come to you with any sincere discussion of their own mental health. Having your coworkers hiding truths will not make your workplace comfortable or safe, it will make it perhaps dangerous and definitely less productive, comfortable and profitable. “With mental health & well-being at the forefront of employee concerns, 34 percent look to their employers for resources to help their anxiety during the pandemic. Employers are seeking innovative ways to lift up their employees and capitalize on the current climate where not only is it ok to not be ok, but it’s also ok to seek help,” according to BigThink.
“Don’t make jokes about #mentalhealth. You reinforce the #stigma and shame surrounding mental health concerns. No one would rightfully come to you with any sincere discussion of their own mental health.”
Read more in Take The Lead on wellness as a leader
Reach out respectfully. Isolation is real, and employees no longer have a community in real life to lean on for support. If you have concerns, contact the person in private and confidentially and compassionately. Dr. Anthony Harris, chief innovation officer and associate medical director for WorkCare, a physician-directed occupational health company aimed at helping businesses practice healthy procedures and attitudes in the workplace, writes in Black Enterprise, “People are working from home which creates quite a bit of isolation, a factor that typically exacerbates already existing mental health issues. Businesses are learning to reach out in different and more creative ways to check in on their people.There is no more ‘talking at the water cooler’ so it requires more intentionality to keep up with your co-workers and employees. We have already seen the increased partnerships between businesses and providers to serve workers in the community toward mental health wellness.”
“Reach out respectfully. #Isolation is real, and employees no longer have a community in real life to lean on for #support. If you have concerns, contact the person in private and confidentially and compassionately. ”
Listen to Take The Lead podcast on mental health in the workplace
Keep listening. “The first step is really just to talk with the person. Have a conversation with them to allow them to tell you what's going on,” writes Dr. Dawn Brown, a Child/Adult Psychiatrist, CEO/Owner of ADHD Wellness Center & Mental Healthletics, in Forbes. “This conversation is crucial, and the way that you approach it couldn't be more important. Start slow and let them lead into the topic at hand. As mental health can be a very sensitive matter, you don't just want to come right out and put a label on your co-worker. Instead, ask them how they're doing. Let them tell you what's going on. If your colleague feels comfortable and wants to open up about their mental health, they will.”
This is not just a temporary, local problem. “A World Economic Forum/Harvard School of Public Health study estimated that the cumulative global impact of mental disorders in terms of lost economic output will amount to $16.3 trillion between 2011 and 2030.” For more information, see the seven step guide on dealing with mental health issues in the workplace from the WE Forum here.
“This is not just a temporary, local problem. Listen to @Takeleadwomen podcast on #mentalhealth in the #workplace to learn more: https://www.taketheleadwomen.com/podcast/007”
