Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace with a Wellness Program

Nurturing mental health in the workplace is always important, but the end-of-financial-year period (EOFY) can be particularly stressful for some organisations. 

In this blog, we outline the benefits of a mentally healthy workplace and the emotional wellness activities and resources you can offer your employees to improve their mental health. 

The EOFY can be stressful for a number of reasons. From ensuring tax compliance to the complexities of finalising current year projects while also planning for the year ahead, the weeks either side of 30 June can feel like a real pressure cooker.

That’s why managing workplace stress and mental health is essential during this period.

The benefits of a mentally healthy workplace flow to both employees and employers. Employees with good mental health are more engaged and derive a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction from their work. As a result, they tend to be more productive and more likely to remain with the organisation long term. A mentally healthy workplace also benefits employers because it translates to reduced operating costs, lower staff turnover rates and a reputation as an employer of choice, making it easier to attract talented team members. 

As an employer or team manager, it’s important to understand mental health and its relationship to the workplace. In doing so, you’ll be better prepared to promote mental wellbeing and support your team members when they struggle with their own. 

By the same token, providing training and resources for your employees helps increase their awareness of mental health issues. This awareness is crucial - it means your team members will be better equipped to manage their own mental health and to be more empathetic towards their colleagues. 

By developing a holistic understanding of mental health and wellbeing, you and your team can learn to talk openly about mental illness and reduce the stigma around speaking up and getting help.

An employee assistance program (EAP) is a great resource for your team, but can easily be forgotten without reminders and promotion. At the same time, your employees might feel too embarrassed to access the EAP, especially if it feels like a taboo topic of conversation. 
If your organisation has an EAP or is considering investing in one, you must also encourage your employees to actually use it by reminding them of its existence and its benefits. A good way to do this is via a monthly mental health newsletter, where you can reinforce the value of the EAP while also promoting the mental wellness activities for employees that your organisation provides. 

There’s a wide range of mental health wellness activities you can offer your employees, from the meditative to the physically demanding.

For example, training your employees to practice mindfulness can be an excellent way to improve their mental health at work while giving them the tools to focus better in all areas of their lives. Incorporating yoga into the workplace is also an effective way to help employees shift focus from their thoughts to their physical presence, interrupting cycles of anxiety and promoting mental clarity.

On the other hand, more intensive activities like fitness classes and pilates have obvious physical benefits but can also contribute to enhanced mental resilience and overall wellbeing.

One of the best ways to deliver a comprehensive suite of emotional wellness activities for your workplace is a Corporate Wellness Plan.

Our friendly advisors can help you build a plan tailored to your team and their specific needs this EOFY. Contact us today.