Mental Health in the Workplace: A Look at this Year’s World Mental Health Day

“Our minds, our rights” is the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day, which will be celebrated around the world on Oct. 10.

Under the theme “Mental health is a universal human right,” this day focuses on the importance of mental health and calls for the rights and well-being of people worldwide to be protected and respected. In this article, we take a closer look at Mental Health Day and provide a comprehensive overview of mental health in the workplace.

World Mental Health Day

Celebrated annually, World Mental Health Day is an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO). Its goal is to raise awareness of mental health at work and recognize the urgent need to address the mental health of our society as a whole.

First observed in 1992, this day is an opportunity to reflect on the challenges people with mental illness face every day, as well as to develop solutions for positive change.

Mental Health is a Universal Human Right!

This year’s theme, “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right,” reminds us that mental health is a fundamental and non-negotiable right of every human being. This also applies to mental health in the workplace: we all have the right to work in an environment that protects our mental well-being and where we are neither discriminated against nor stigmatized.

Mental health affects everyone – regardless of age, gender, background or profession! It is just as important as our physical health and has a significant impact on many areas of our daily lives – not least our ability to work. That is why it’s so important that employers, managers, and HR professionals recognize the need for good mental health in the workplace, taking the appropriate action to foster and protect it.

All About Mental Health in the Workplace

The statistics speak for themselves: mental illness is on the rise worldwide and affects increasingly more people. This is also true in the workplace: stress, excessive pressure, conflict, and an unhealthy work environment significantly impact on the mental health of employees, leading to burnout, depression, and anxiety.

Let’s look at 3 worrying statistics.

Mental Health in Numbers

• Prevalence of mental illness: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health problems are on the rise worldwide. One in four people will suffer from a mental illness in their lifetime – from anxiety disorders to depression. In Germany, that’s about 20 million people.
• Work-related stress: stress at work is a common trigger for mental health problems. In an opinion poll conducted by EU-OSHA, about half of European employees stated that they are frequently exposed to work-related stress at their workplace. The most frequently cited causes of work-related stress are job insecurity, long working hours or work overload, and harassment or violence at work.
• Absenteeism: according to the German Federal Ministry of Health, around 10% of absenteeism among employees is due to mental illness. Globally, depression, alcohol abuse, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are among the most common illnesses.

The numbers show that Mental health in the workplace is not an abstract issue but a real-life problem affecting a broad section of our society. But to what extent does the work environment affect the mental health of employees?

The Relationship Between Work Environment and Mental Health

One thing is certain: the work environment plays a significant role in the mental health of workers. A supportive and appreciative work environment can promote well-being, whereas a toxic or stressful environment can exacerbate mental illness.

Some elements to promote mental health through the work environment may include:

• Stress management measures: a work environment that promotes stress management skills can help protect workers from burnout and other stress-related illnesses.
• Social support: a supportive environment and a sense of belonging at work can help reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness. Both phenomena are often associated with mental health problems.
• Preventing discrimination: discrimination and stigma associated with mental health problems in the workplace can have profound consequences. An inclusive environment promotes openness and access to help.

Impact of Mental Illness on Organizations

The mental health of all employees has far-reaching implications for businesses and organizations. Some important aspects are:

1. Absenteeism: people suffering from mental illness are more likely to be absent from work, leading to lost productivity and higher costs for companies.
2. Productivity: even though employees may be physically present, their productivity may be severely impaired due to mental illness. Lack of focus, difficulty making decisions, and decreased performance are common symptoms. According to the World Economic Forum, depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.
3. Turnover: companies that do not promote the mental health of their employees increasingly have to deal with high turnover: new employees in turn mean higher recruitment and training costs.
4. Reputation: companies that do not pay attention to the mental health needs of their employees risk a bad reputation and difficulties in recruiting.

The mental health of employees must therefore be promoted in the most viable way – not only for moral reasons (though this should always be priority #1!), but also because it demonstrably improves the performance – and therefore the bottom line – of a company.

The Role of HR in Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace

We spend a sizable portion of our lives at work: this makes it all the more important that companies fulfill their responsibilities, taking proactive measures to support the mental health of all employees. HR teams play a vital role in this.

A Big Responsibility

The onus is on the HR team to promote and protect the mental and psychological health of employees. This includes, among other things, creating a supportive work environment in which all employees feel comfortable and can talk openly about their mental challenges.

However, it is also important to note that HR managers themselves are not immune to the effects associated with mental health issues. Compassion fatigue is a condition where HR employees suffer distress due to their compassion and emotional investment in employee problems. Therefore, it is imperative that HR professionals also practice self-care and seek support for their own mental health needs.

Keyword: Supportive Work Environment

A positive and healthy work environment that focuses on employees’ mental health and rights is critical to everyone’s health. Such an environment is characterized by openness, empathy, and respect for employees’ individual challenges.

HR professionals should work to create an environment where employees feel safe to talk about their mental health issues – without fear of stigma or negative consequences.

It is important for HR teams to work closely with managers and employees to review and, if necessary, adapt company values to address the mental health needs of all.

Measures to Promote Mental Health at the Workplace

To create a positive, health-promoting work environment that values and nurtures mental health in the workplace, HR managers should take general and targeted measures.

General measures can include:

• The introduction of flexible working time models
• Promotion of work-life balance
• The creation of retreats for rest and relaxation in the workplace.

In addition, HR professionals should initiate targeted measures around mental health to provide employees with tools to deal with daily challenges.

3 targeted actions could be:

Raising Awareness for All!

Implementing ongoing programs on mental health is key to raising awareness, attention and understanding of mental health. The aim is to reduce prejudice and stigmatization, while creating a climate of understanding and acceptance where illnesses and health problems do not go undetected and those affected can be offered timely support.

Such programs should be offered to both employees and managers. Employees should primarily learn how to protect their own mental health, while managers should be trained to recognize and respond appropriately to signs of mental illness among their peers. Of course, it is also important for managers to take care of themselves, and for employees to be alert throughout the workday to detect problems in their colleagues.

Develop a Mental Health Policy

Developing a Mental Health Policy is another step on the road to a healthy work environment. This policy should provide clear guidelines for promoting mental health in the workplace and reassure employees that they will receive support and help when they need it. It should also promote the elimination of discrimination and stigma associated with mental health problems in the workplace.

Early Identification and Support

HR teams should implement mechanisms for early detection of mental health problems that enable the organization to provide early support to employees. This includes regular conversations and feedback sessions where employees can freely and confidentially discuss their personal concerns.

In addition, HR departments should provide resources that make it easy for staff to seek professional help when they need it. Employees need to know how to get help in crisis situations; this may include providing information about therapists, psychologists, and support groups.

HR plays a critical role in promoting mental health in the workplace. By taking responsibility for the psychological and mental health of employees, HR managers help create a work environment focused on support and well-being.

Speexx Coaching offers you techniques and support to promote the mental health of your employees – learn more here: https://www.speexx.com/solutions/mental-health-and-well-being/ 

Mental Health in the Workplace: Companies that Are Leading by Example

There are already companies that actively promote a supportive work environment in which the psychological and mental health of their employees is fostered.

One example is the French advertising service provider Publicis Groupe. According to an article in the trade journal Absatzwirtschaft, its #WeCareWeThrive corporate campaign aims to create a healthier, stress-free, and more positive work environment. The company cooperates worldwide with the mental health service Thrive and offers training content on mental health on an internal platform.

In the DACH region, a program was initiated in cooperation with Detoxrebels, which includes digital lectures and a “WeCare” club for exchange among employees. The program has already attracted many participants and promotes openness about mental health issues in the workplace. Publicis also places great emphasis on promoting self-care among employees so that they can take care of their health and respond to body signals early on.

At Speexx we also take care of our employees!

How Speexx Cares for Mental Health in the Workplace

We have taken a number of steps to promote mental health, and thus the well-being and satisfaction of our employees, to create a supportive, safe, and inclusive work environment that values individuals and actively supports professional and personal development.

• Collaboration with Stimulus: since 2021, Speexx has partnered with Stimulus to provide all employees with access to psychological support. This support includes psychological counseling and help with personal and professional challenges. The collaboration offers Speexx employees professional support, confidentiality, and anonymity.
• Regular Team Satisfaction Surveys: surveys are conducted regularly to gain insight into the needs and feelings of employees.
• Workshops and events: to strengthen the corporate culture and promote the global SpeexxLife culture, workshops are regularly offered to all employees.
• Initiatives around the pandemic: especially during and after the pandemic, initiatives were launched to support the mental well-being of employees. These include more flexibility in working hours and location, extended social benefits, psychological support, and workshops in emotional intelligence and stress management.
• Promoting psychological safety in the workplace: Speexx offers internal workshops on psychological safety in the workplace. The workshops teach participants how to better understand psychological safety and the impact that low levels of psychological safety can have on a team. Participants will be given practical tools and exercises to build and maintain psychological safety.

Challenges in Implementing Mental Health Measures in the Workplace.

Of course, there are challenges that companies face when implementing workplace mental health interventions. Two familiar challenges are:

1. Stigma and Prejudice. One of the biggest challenges is the stigmatization of mental illness. Many employees are reluctant to talk about their mental health challenges for fear of prejudice or negative consequences. Earlier in this article, we learned about solutions to this challenge: continuing education programs and awareness campaigns reduce prejudice and create a climate of understanding and acceptance.
2. Resistance and Skepticism. Sometimes, measures to promote mental health in the company are met with resistance or skepticism. Here it is important to show continuous commitment and adaptability; communication with employees and openness to feedback are critical to overcoming these challenges.

Mental Health (in the Workplace) is Precious!

It is time to recognize the importance of mental health in the workplace and take concrete steps to protect and promote it. Mental Health Day on October 10 is an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health and respect the right of workers to enjoy psychological well-being and good mental health.

Proactively promoting mental health in companies plays a crucial role in creating a healthy and productive work environment. Only in this way can companies be successful in the long term and make an important contribution to this year’s World Mental Health Day motto: Our minds, our rights.