How to Improve Mental Health at Work: Best Practices

The modern workplace can create a lot of stress and anxiety, leading to mental health burnout and affecting employees' well-being.

When employees feel overwhelmed and undervalued, their productivity drops, relationships with coworkers suffer, and the company's reputation can take a hit.

By using effective strategies, employers can create a work environment that supports and promotes mental well-being.

This article will look at how to improve mental health at work, sharing some of the best practices.

We will discuss building a culture of open communication, providing mental health resources, encouraging a healthy work-life balance, and promoting mindfulness.

What Is Mental Health Burnout? 

Mental health burnout is when people feel very tired emotionally, physically, and mentally because of constant stress. 

While burnout can happen to anyone, it is more common among those in high-stress jobs or caregiving roles.

People may feel burned out when they are:

  • Emotionally drained.
  • Losing motivation.
  • Not performing well.
  • Experiencing physical issues like headaches, trouble sleeping, stomach problems, and other health concerns linked to stress.

Burnout can happen for several reasons, such as:

  • Having a heavy workload.
  • Having little control over their tasks.
  • Not getting enough support from supervisors or coworkers, making it harder to handle stress.
  • Having unclear roles and responsibilities, which can cause confusion and frustration.

Why Is It Important To Prevent Mental Health Burnout?

Burnout can harm mental health and create serious problems for individuals, their coworkers, and their employers.  

If ignored, burnout can lead to higher employee turnover, lower job satisfaction, and potential legal issues.  

On the other hand, supporting mental health at work can boost job satisfaction and job performance.  

Your HR business partner should cooperate with the talent management team to create a plan focused on the mental well-being of team members.

If your company is small and doesn’t have a dedicated Human Resources department, consider teaming up with a Fractional HR firm that can create a customized mental health support plan for your employees.

Strategies to Support Employee Mental Health at Work

Here are some easy ways employers can help their staff feel better and support their mental well-being.

1. Foster Open Communication

When employees feel safe to share their thoughts and feelings, it can help reduce isolation and anxiety.

Leaders should show vulnerability by discussing their own challenges. 

This can foster a sense of belonging and encourage employees to speak up without fearing judgment.

It’s also helpful to ask open-ended questions like, "How's your workload?" or "Is there anything on your mind?" to spark more conversations and show that you care about their well-being. 

On the other hand, Human Resources Managers can play a key role by providing training on how to spot signs of stress and burnout, help a colleague who's struggling, and share self-care tips.

Finally, at TROIS Collective, we recommend conducting anonymous surveys to check on employee well-being, with questions about mental health support and workplace stressors.

2. Set Clear Health and Safety Protocols

Your organization's health and safety guidelines are crucial for preventing and addressing issues like stress, burnout, substance abuse, and other mental health challenges.

To achieve these goals, human resource management should focus on creating a safe and healthy workplace.

HR managers need to identify common workplace stressors and develop strategies to manage them. This includes managing workloads effectively and resolving conflicts.

It is also important to create clear policies against harassment and bullying in the workplace.

3. Provide Mental Health Resources

Organizations can support mental health by providing easy access to resources. This encourages employees to seek help when they need it.

A common resource is the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

The EAP offers confidential counseling and support services for employees, including:

  • Short-term counseling sessions with licensed mental health professionals to help with personal or work-related issues.
  • Connections to community resources, like therapists, support groups, or specialized treatment providers.
  • Guidance on topics such as stress management, financial wellness, and family support.

Share details about the EAP in company-wide emails, newsletters, posters, team meetings, or on the company’s intranet.

4. Encourage Peer Support

Encouraging peer support at work is a great way to boost employee mental health and build a sense of community. 

When coworkers have each other's backs, everyone tends to be happier with their jobs, feel less stressed, and enjoy life more overall.

Some effective peer support programs include:

  • Buddy systems to pair new employees with experienced coworkers. These coworkers can offer guidance, answer questions, and provide support as new hires adjust to the workplace.
  • Peer mentorship to create a mentorship program that connects employees with mentors. Mentors provide professional advice, share experiences, and help with job challenges.

Another helpful approach is to form support groups based on shared interests or experiences, such as stress management, parenting, or work-life balance. 

Lastly, promote team-building activities.

Organize events like team lunches, retreats, or volunteer opportunities to help employees bond outside of their usual work environment.

To make these initiatives really take off, it’s smart to have recognition programs that celebrate those who actively support their colleagues. 

5. Train Supervisors and Managers on Mental Health

Investing in mental health education and training at work can help employees spot signs of mental health issues in themselves and their colleagues. 

This investment can include webinars, workshops, lists of resources, and practical guides to help people cope better.

Guiding managers to find possible emotional stressors at work and strategies to reduce these challenges; leading to a more positive and resilient work atmosphere.

6. Make Mental Health Services Easier to Access

Many people need therapy and medication, but it can be hard to find time for appointments during regular business hours.

To create a workplace that truly supports mental health:

  • Make sure health insurance covers mental health services, including therapy and psychiatric medications.
  • Provide employees with paid time off to attend therapy or medication appointments.
  • Incorporate an organizational psychologist into your HR team.
  • Collaborate with local mental health providers to offer free on-site counseling services.

7. Promote Physical Health

Data shows that physical health is closely connected to mental health. 

Therefore, consider to:

  • Offer on-site gyms or fitness centers so employees can exercise conveniently during breaks or before and after work.
  • Organize fitness challenges or competitions to motivate employees to reach goals like step counts or workout minutes.
  • Provide group fitness classes, such as yoga, Zumba, or aerobics, during lunch breaks or after work to make exercise more fun.
  • Fill up break rooms and vending machines with healthy snacks like fruits, nuts, and yogurt instead of sugary or processed junk.
  • Organize workshops with nutritionists or dietitians to teach employees about healthy eating and meal planning.
  • When it comes to meals for meetings or events, pick tasty and healthy options.
  • Encourage employees to take short breaks to stretch, walk, or relax, and send reminders to support this.
  • If you can, hold meetings while walking around to spark creativity and create a healthier vibe at work.

Benefits of a Mentally Healthy Workforce

Research shows that creating a positive work environment and supporting employees' mental health brings many benefits, such as:

  • Supportive workplaces make employees more efficient. 
  • Employees who feel safe do better-quality work.
  • Positive cultures encourage employees to care more about their jobs.
  • Mental health programs build long-term loyalty among staff.
  • Talking openly about mental health creates trust between employees and management.

In Summary

Burnout at work is a common problem that can happen in any job, but it often affects high-pressure industries the most.

Luckily, there are many ways to help your employees stay focused, productive, and healthy as they work toward your business goals.

If you need help on how to improve mental health at work, think about partnering with an outsourcing HR team that can create a customized plan for you and your employees.

At TROIS Collective, we are here to help. 

Feel free to contact us here.