The consequences of ignoring this sphere and pushing it into the background can be really serious, because untreated feelings of fatigue, burnout and chronic stress can lead to the development of depression, among other things, and in the long run it can also affect the physical health of the employee.

According to a study conducted by Benefit Systems in 2022, as many as one in three employees feel tired and tired at work at least several times a week, and one in ten - every day. However, this is not all, because as many as every fifth working Pole feels tired before starting the working day at all, which is a bookish symptom of the feeling of professional burnout.

The problem related to the mental health crisis is a trend not only in Poland. According to a study by Willis Towers Watson, 73% of employers worldwide report that stress, burnout and mental health problems are the biggest challenges for them when it comes to managing their human capital.

As you can see, the situation is already really serious, and the World Health Organization warns that this condition will get even worse. In response to this threat, the European Parliament is proposing to establish 2023 as the European Year of Good Mental Health and is preparing further resolutions with guidance and guidance on how to support the mental health of employees. Parliament's main guidelines are the flexibility of working hours and regulations related to remote work. What else can be done at the organizational level not to contribute to the growth of the worrying phenomenon of the mental health crisis? We tell you how you can take care of the mental health of your team.

Care for the work environment

To care about supporting the well-being of employees in our organization, first of all it is necessary to start by looking at what causes them to feel burned out and tired. Does our work culture work for the well-being of our employees? Do they feel understood, confident and recognized? Do they know we appreciate their work?

At first glance, this may seem trivial, but it is from indifference and a sense of meaninglessness that professional burnout begins to germinate, and the negative atmosphere at work and lack of rest are factors that directly exacerbate the problem of mental health crisis. It is therefore important to analyze the working environment in which our employees live and modify it accordingly in such a way that it is friendly to them and that they are happy to return to it.

Recognition and motivation

Does your organization's incentive system fulfill its functions? It is worth taking a closer look at its effectiveness and, if necessary, reach for new solutions that appear on the market. Benefit packages can be a helpful tool here, which are not only proven motivators, but also allow us to express appreciation to employees and help build loyalty and strengthen ties in the workplace.

Benefits such as sports cards and access to online exercises, give employees the opportunity for active rest, which is very important for the regeneration of not only the body, but also the mind. In addition, they stimulate people to resort to health activities, which is especially important, since often a depressed mood can push towards behaviors that will only aggravate the difficult state.

Passive and active rest

There should be a balance between work and rest and it is no different with the balance in the ways of our rest. Passive relaxation is important, especially if we have extremely little free time. However, active rest is equally important, because it is it that helps to regenerate our mind, and in the long run it also contributes to improving concentration and increased creativity.

In addition, cultivating even a dozen minutes of physical effort during the day, improves circulation and positively affects the quality of sleep, which is an indispensable element of mental and physical health. The current entertainment commonly used by people is to spend time in front of a computer screen, television or phone. Meanwhile, new technologies can also be used to increase one's own well-being, for example through the use of telephone applications aimed at reducing the user's stress, through guided meditations, relaxation or calming music. In this way, it is possible to make passive rest even more supportive.

Communication and support

It is worth opening up to conversations about mental health, although this may give rise to objections from many - after all, human attitudes based on separating private life and work with a thick line are known and common. It is high time to change this outdated approach, because if a person struggles with depression, for example, it will not only accompany him at work, but in the end it may even prevent him from doing it. The problem of a widening mental crisis will not disappear if we do not open ourselves to its presence. On the contrary, such turning away from him, can only heat him up.

Our employees should be aware of the opportunity to communicate their problems and struggles, as well as know that they will be heard and understood. An additional element can also be a package of health benefits, supplemented by access to the care of a psychologist or psychiatrist. Communicating honestly and openly about mental well-being and destigmatizing mental disorders is very important because they encourage employees to take care of their mental health and not push it into the background.

Attention to the problem and education

It is also important to make your employees aware of the danger that problems in the mental sphere can be and to prepare them properly and sensitize them to the initial symptoms of burnout, depression or mental disorders. Thanks to the proper education of employees, we have a chance to reduce the likelihood of this type of situation, and as you know - it is much easier to prevent than to cure. If we have such an opportunity, it is worth investing in professional training or workshops on mental health — this is definitely an investment in the future not only of employees, but also of the well-being of the company.

Why invest in the mental health of employees?

In addition to the fact that co-creating a healthy and safe working atmosphere is simply ethically advisable, it also has a justification in economics. Besides the satisfaction and support of our employees, what can we gain? The list of benefits is extensive:

An employee who feels valued and cared for is a loyal employee. It may seem like a trivial matter, but solid and permanent staff is rare in these uncertain times, as with economic and health concerns, employee turnover generally increases. A 2021 study by Forrester Research indicates that close to 80% of employees consider the availability of mental health care a key component of the workplace and take this into account when deciding whether to stay or change jobs.

The right amount of rest, both passive and active, contributes to improved concentration and increased creativity. According to the American Psychological Association, people who have free access to the help of a mental health professional are productive workers, maintaining good relationships with superiors and coworkers, as well as providing better customer service.

In addition to a better quality of work, translating into company profits, we can also count on reimbursement of expenses related to sick leave. According to the WHO, by investing in the mental health of workers, we can expect up to four times the reimbursement of costs calculated in the productivity of employees and a reduced amount of sick leave. What's more, chronic stress, depression and burnout can lead to physical conditions, including heart disease or the immune system. Investing in mental health prevention can therefore reduce the incidence of serious illnesses and, consequently, reduce the costs of insurance associated with them.

To illustrate the ever-increasing problem with the mental health of societies, one can cite a study conducted by the Gallup Institute. Its representatives checked what is the rate of people's feelings of unhappiness in an international study (The Global Rise of Unhappiness), as a result of which it can be concluded that the percentage of people who describe themselves as unhappy in society in recent years can be found to be increasing. In 2006, 24 percent of respondents felt unhappy; in 2015, the number rose to 26 percent, to reach 33 percent in 2021.

It is worth taking into account the fact that a person in whose interior some kind of psychological discomfort increases and as a result narrows his usual behaviors (for example, time spent on hobbies or meetings with friends), generally tries as long as possible to maintain employment. It is therefore worthwhile for the work environment to fulfill, as far as possible, the function of psychoeducation and mental health prevention. The benefits of this type of action will be shared by all.

Bibliography:

1. The Willis Towers Watson “2021 Benefit Trends Survey” report, 2021.
2. Keus van de Poll M, Nybergh L, Lornudd C, et al “Preventing sickness absence among employees with common mental disorders or stress-related symptoms at work: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a problem-solution-based intervention conducted by the Occupational Health Services”, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2020.
3. Harder, H.G., Wagner, S.L., & Rash, J.A. “Mental illness in the workplace: Psychological disability management”, Gower Publishing Co., 2014.
4. Making the Investment Case for Mental Health: A WHO/UNDP Methodological Guidance
5. Note”, 2019.
6. Debra Lerner, Mercedes Lyson, Eileen Sandberg, William H. Rogers, “The High Cost of Mental Health Disorders: Facts For Employers,” 2018.
7. Jon Clifton Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It Hardcover, 2022.
8. Benefit Systems report “Tired, indifferent, unengaged. Post-pandemic needs of workers”, 2022.