8 tips on how to look after your employees’ mental health

From this article you will learn:

• What is the current state of mind of Polish employees?
• What could be the causes of psychological problems after the pandemic?
• How can a company support employee mental health protection?

The psychological problems of Polish employees are often mentioned in one breath with other consequences of the pandemic. Of course, the prolonged isolation and uncertainty of tomorrow have certainly left a mark on the well-being of Poles. Benefit Systems report “Tired, indifferent, unengaged. Post-pandemic needs of employees” from 2022 showed that as many as 61% of working Poles during the pandemic were more likely to feel problems related to the psyche! However, it would be wrong to point to recent events as the sole cause of such a state. It turns out that Even before the Covid-19 epidemic, many studies have pointed to a widespread increase in mental health risks, constituting a civilizational problem. [1]

Did you know that...

It is estimated that 12 billion working days are lost each year due to depression and anxiety, which cost the global economy nearly $1 trillion. [2]

However, the fact is that the psychological state of our compatriots has deteriorated compared to the pre-pandemic norm [1]. The stress level alone has increased recently in 53% of the respondents, causing a deterioration in their health at the same time.

However, Covid was a factor that accelerated the inclination towards this topic by Polish employers [3]. The attitude of the employees themselves has also changed. Nearly half of them (48%) now expect mental health support from their employer [4].

How to counteract escalation and mitigate the effects of existing mental problems among employees?

1. Take care of communication

It turns out that psychological problems — those stemming from the pandemic and beyond — have a lot to do with feelings of uncertainty and fears about tomorrow. Almost ⅓ (29%) of the total employees surveyed for the purpose of the report “Mental health of Poles and their professional life” of the Livecareer.pl website admitted that they work in precarious conditions. In contrast, among employees struggling with mental health problems, it was almost half — 45%.

It turned out that people who suffer from mental problems also notice that they generally do not like the conditions in their companies or the amount of earnings they earn [5]. The uncertainty of tomorrow, an unpleasant atmosphere and poorly paid work fatally affect the mood of the crew. Part of these problems can solve not a sudden influx of cash (this would be unrealistic advice), but just open, honest and comprehensive approach to communication — informing about the situation on the market and the company's responses to new challenges. Who knows, maybe in this way you can turn fears into motivation to pursue a common goal?

2. Give space

According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission, respondents from Central and Eastern Europe perform best when it comes to mental health. However, according to experts, such data do not indicate that this part of Europeans copes better with stress. On the contrary: in the countries of our region there is less awareness of mental hygiene, greater stigmatization of mental health in this regard and insufficient access to the help of psychiatrists and psychotherapists [1]. The company is able to influence all these factors, allowing all employees to e.g. consultation with a psychologist online.

Let's start with the stigmatization — it is worth creating such policies and procedures so that employees are not afraid to talk about mental problems. And also, in case of such problems, They knew who to turn to. Information about these types of procedures can be provided by managers, but employees should have constant access to them through the intranet. You can also post information on the intranet about courses and trainings available, for example, as part of benefits (such as mindfulness course from MultiLife).

3. Chat live

Experts point out that in the case of online meetings, even an experienced and extremely empathetic manager will have trouble perceiving that something bad is happening with the employee in terms of psyche. During the half-hour status in the application, it is easy to simulate well-being and a positive attitude. It will be different during an 8-hour stay in the workplace [1]. It is worth taking this into account when planning the days of stationary work in the hybrid model.

4. Take care of managers

People who are often on the front lines of the fight against the psychological problems of employees do not have the appropriate knowledge in this regard. It turns out that this is a huge and very common problem, not exclusive to Poland [6]. The reason may be the same as in the case of the issue Integrating Distributed Teams — a large number of changes fell on companies too quickly and too suddenly. It is therefore worth devoting time and resources to support managers in acquiring psychological knowledge. This has recently been recommended by the WHO [2].

5. Indicate a healthy diet

Diet and eating habits are another aspect that really affects the psyche, in which the company can support employees. Remember that the brain is an organ that requires a large dose of energy and nutrients. It is the supply of the right amino acids, fats, vitamins, minerals and trace elements that makes it function properly [1].

You can read more about this in the article:”Did you know that what you eat can keep you away from a promotion or bonus? Does food affect our productivity?”.

Employers have many tools to support the team's proper eating habits. In the office itself, you can arrange places conducive to the preparation and eating of a meal in a quiet atmosphere. You can also — as part of the benefits — provide the team consultation with a nutritionist, training in healthy eating or programs to help establish and monitor dietary recommendations (such as MultiLife Diet).

6. Promote activity

The previously mentioned Benefit Systems report from 2022 found that, according to 95%, or the vast majority of employees, physical activity helps relieve work-related stress. 93% considered it to have a positive effect on memory and concentration, and 93% found it to promote creative thinking. [4]

These data are also covered in other scientific studies [7]. Importantly, movement not only affects mood momentarily, but also acts as a preventive measure, preventing the body's response to stressors in the future as well [8].

We can safely assume that any support in this regard will be positively received by the team. Today, 47% of employees expect employers to increase
commitment to support physical activity and a healthy lifestyle [4]. Companies have many solutions here, but the best results are traditionally given by synergy. You can take advantage of the strength of the company's teams, provide the teams with MultiSport cards, and also consult with a personal trainer and access to the platform with online trainings, which makes MultiLife possible.

7. Monitor health

Regular conversations with employees and paying attention to any fluctuations in the atmosphere in the teams is one thing. It is also worth supporting employees in monitoring other parameters. Remember that our mental state also has an impact on our overall health [1]. These types of issues can be raised by organizing health days in the company, but also by providing access to services such as, for example, through benefits. laboratory test packages whether Telemedia (easy and quick access to online diagnosticians).

8. Take care of well-being

Experts point out that the following are strongly reflected on our health: fast pace of life, chronic exposure to stress and sleep problems. These factors exacerbate mood swings, fatigue, lack of motivation and decision-making difficulties. The reason for this is the weakening of neurological functions [1]. For the benefit of the employees themselves, but also for the improvement of efficiency indicators, Therefore, it is worth implementing measures aimed at improving work-life balance in the company. In addition, teams can be supported through appropriate training — for example yoga courses whether breathing, as well as applications of the type Foculs. All such solutions are available under the MultiLife benefit.

Prevention is better than cure — creating the right work environment, based on a good atmosphere and open communication; respecting work-life balance and not allowing employees to be overloaded with responsibilities. It will never be possible to completely eliminate stress. Just as it is unrealistic to assume that an employer will be able to take care of the well-being of employees around the clock — urging them to eat right and exercise, as well as regular check-ups. However, it is certain that the role of the company in this regard is large and it is worth taking advantage of it. For the benefit of all.

...

Bibliography:

1. situ https://www.gov.pl/web/wsse-warszawa/zdrowie-psychiczne.
2. situ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work.
3. situ https://zdrowie.pap.pl/srodowisko/ekg-2023-zmiany-na-rynku-pracy-w-polsce-w-cenie-work-life-balance.
4. Benefit Systems report “Tired, indifferent, unengaged. Post-pandemic needs of workers”, 2022.
5. situ https://www.livecareer.pl/porady-zawodowe/zdrowie-psychiczne-a-praca.
6. situ https://forsal.pl/praca/aktualnosci/artykuly/8705049,rosnace-problemy-w-pracy-kierownicy-nie-sa-terapeutami-niewielu-wie-jak-reagowac.html.
7. situ https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C1544639%2Cnowe-badanie-dowodzi-ze-w-walce-z-depresja-aktywnosc-fizyczna-moze-byc.
8. situ https://ncez.pzh.gov.pl/aktywnosc-fizyczna/systematyczny-ruch-lekiem-na-stres/.