From 12th to 18th May, it’s Mental Health Awareness Week – a time to shine a spotlight on issues that have a huge impact on millions of people across the globe. Sadly, despite a long-awaited new Mental Health Act now on the horizon, for a lot of the year, mental health doesn’t enter the conversation as much as it deserves to. Mental health struggles are a more common problem than many people are aware of, and for one of the biggest killers, it’s still not treated with the attention and urgency that it demands. Breaking down that stigma and lack of understanding that this week is all about.
The importance of community
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is “community”. Those more socially connected with loved ones or a supportive community have been proven to suffer from fewer mental health problems, and have a longer, healthier life as a result. Being surrounded by people who understand you and are there to support you is vital for your wellbeing, and so the value of being that person to those around you can’t be understated.
This blog post by the Mental Health Foundation goes into this in more detail, highlighting the significance of having a support system in your life to look after your mental health.
My experience with mental health issues
My mental health struggles can probably be described as a lot of background noise – an uneasy anxiety that’s always in the back of my head, and makes me doubt myself, my abilities, and my choices. At work, for example, I often find myself struggling to believe I’m good at what I do, or that other people actually enjoy having me on the team. These are things that have no reasonable justification, or any basis in reality whatsoever – none of my colleagues have ever done anything to suggest I’m secretly hated, or that I’m the true villain of the company – yet these are still thoughts that occur at random, brought on by nothing in particular.
So I’m lucky in that I don’t feel like I’ve experienced what you might call “severe” mental health issues, but I’ve still been somewhat affected by depression and anxiety throughout my life, and I’m willing to bet that a lot of people’s experiences are very similar to mine.
How do you support staff with mental health issues?
It can be hard to know how to approach this delicate subject when it comes to supporting your staff. How do you know what to say? Is it appropriate to discuss this at length? Are you capable of giving the support that staff may need?
The key thing is to listen. Be open and approachable with your employees, and make sure they know that if they have any concerns or worries, they can come to you. Don’t single anybody out, of course, but let your team know that they don’t have to suffer in silence, and that if their work is buckling under the pressure of any mental health issues, then a solution can be found.
How does DPAS approach this?
At DPAS, we’re very open about this topic. Staff receive regular reminders that their line managers are always there and happy to listen if there are any concerns, and this alone results in a team that’s not afraid to voice their worries and be honest when they need a little slack. It happens to all of us, after all. Sometimes, our mental health takes a dive, and naturally, our performance at work can take a bit of a hit. As long as this is communicated to whoever might need to know, it doesn’t take anybody by surprise, and support can be provided where necessary.
We’re also big on offering flexible working options. By default, most of us work in the office from Tuesday to Thursday, with Mondays and Fridays reserved for home working. Thankfully, this means commuting is less of a nightmare and we can all transition nicely into the weekend! However, if more flexibility is needed for anybody that needs a little extra support, then this is simply sorted, too. It’s all about what works best for each person.
We often have open and honest conversations about struggles at lunch, in meetings or privately, professional and personal, creating that inclusive and free environment allowing staff to vent, chat and get off their chest any particular issues they might be facing.
We’re also really lucky to work in a beautiful environment surrounded by fields, animals, and birds chirping. Staff know that if they are struggling, they can get out of the office and have a walk to clear their head. Management really advocates for lunchtime movement and time away from screens, and discourage working through lunch breaks unless absolutely necessary.
Health and wellbeing come before all else
Remember, though, that work is only work, at the end of the day. A mantra we like to live by is, “is someone going to die?”, because obviously, if it’s a deadline or a meeting that we’re stressing about, then the answer is no. Everyone at DPAS understands and agrees that nothing about our work is worth completely ruining our mental state over. Our jobs are important, yes, but nothing takes priority over our wellbeing. This attitude makes it a lot easier for staff to be open with management about their struggles, because no mistakes made or tasks forgotten due to stress or overwhelm are the end of the world.
Something else that helps is on Fridays, staff log off a little earlier than usual to go and enjoy the weekend. This is especially welcomed in the summer, when the beach seems to call for you throughout the entire work week!
Show your staff that they come first
By making sure that there are policies in place and compromises that can be made to support anyone that’s struggling, you can demonstrate your dedication to putting the health of your team above anything else. If an employee feels that their employer doesn’t truly care about how they’re doing, their motivation is bound to decline, and that support system – that community I mentioned earlier – is going to feel hollow and performative.
Treat your employees with the trust and respect they deserve, support them in any way you can, and in return, you’ll have a loyal team who knows they can count on their employers to take some of the stress off their plate if it’s getting a little much.
