Mental health in the workplace has come to the forefront of recent discussions, with world-renowned athletes Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles normalizing taking a break in order to nurture their wellbeing.
This sentiment should be shared across all industries, whether it’s in a warehouse, retail storefronts, or offices — and the data supports the need for this change in work culture.
In fact, research revealed that 20% of working adults reported major symptoms of mental illness over the course of a month.
Mental illness varies greatly among people who suffer from them, but most symptoms can have a negative impact on work performance and the overall health of workers.
For instance, a worker with anxiety may struggle with meeting deadlines, participating in group meetings or activities, or coming into work altogether without the right support.
Therefore, if business leaders want to ensure that their company culture is one where people from all walks of life can come together to work towards a greater goal, they need to improve and adopt new strategies.
One way to address and help workers struggling with mental illness is expanding their health benefits. For example, providing them resources so they can access tele-mental health allows workers to get the help they need, while showing them their employer cares.
Accommodating those with mental illness not only addresses challenges that employees may be facing, but it can also transform overall workplace culture and create an atmosphere that is transparent, sympathetic, and nurturing to all workers.
