There have been a lot of ups and downs over the past few years, and it’s important to acknowledge the impact this has had on people’s mental health and well-being. So how can you support mental health in the workplace? We’ve put together some tips for you to try.

Promote a work-life balance

Poor work-life balance can have several negative consequences such as burnout, anxiety, low productivity and frustration. Encouraging a good work-life balance will increase focus and productivity while your employees are at work. Avoid sending employees work-related correspondence when they are off duty, and encourage them to rest, spend time with their loved ones, and enjoy holiday time.

Foster an open-door policy

As an employer, you should normalise discussing mental health struggles and reaching out for help. Organise mental health training for managers so they know how to have these hard conversations. Listen to your staff and ask them what they would like to see in the short and long term that would benefit and improve their mental health. Creating this supportive environment will ensure you attract and retain high performing employees.

Run mental health initiatives

Creating regular initiatives and campaigns that focus on mental health will benefit and engage your staff. You can either run these internally, or get someone in to organise this for you. This could look like a physical program or challenge, mindfulness practices, or personal development programs. These activities are a great way to demonstrate you value your employees and care about their mental wellbeing.

Recognise and celebrate the wins

Recognising and celebrating the wins can have a large impact on emotional health in the workplace. ‘Tall poppy syndrome’ and ‘imposter syndrome’ are two major issues within New Zealand, especially in the workplace. Practising gratitude helps to decrease these feelings and unifies employees.

How do you support the mental well-being of your team?