As a mental health advisor and trainer, I've had the privilege of collaborating with organisations and their dedicated wellbeing teams. Over time, I've witnessed the creative and innovative ways these workplaces address the growing mental health crisis linked to chronic stress and burnout. It's undeniable that environmental factors, often beyond our control, have escalated the pressure on individuals. Stress levels are soaring, and burnout has become a prevalent concern. The surge in employers looking for ways to boost employee well-being and mental health is not coincidental.
Today's organisations face a unique challenge: competing in demanding environments, such as post-COVID recovery and financial crises, which can significantly impact staff health. Well-being and stress reduction strategies have taken centre stage, even though employers and HR professionals may work with constrained budgets due to resource allocation elsewhere. But a small investment in time can have a huge return on investment.
The encouraging news is that several low-cost or no-cost strategies are available for organisations to implement, and they are both simple and highly effective. Trust me, I've spent time with many well-being teams in organisations with or working towards positive mental health work cultures, and there is a trend of lower staff turnover and greater commitment to the organisation. Well-being isn't a "nice-to-have"; it's central to any thriving organisation.
Here's a practical guide to implementing 10 strategies:
1) Encourage Breaks
Staff who routinely skip breaks or work through lunch are at a higher risk of chronic stress and burnout. Over time, these conditions can develop into developing mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression. Promoting short, regular breaks to reduce stress and enhance focus.
2) Support Teams to Disconnect at the End of the Day
3) Create a Positive Work Culture through Leadership and Influence:
4) Flexibility in Work Hours
5) Social Activities and Connection
6) Recognise and Celebrate Achievements
7) Encourage Physical Activity
8) Promote Stress-Reduction Techniques
9) Share Mental Health Resources
10) Support Employee Initiatives
Boosting well-being and addressing stress in the workplace don't have to be expensive. I've been in rooms where staff enthusiastically discuss the impact of small changes. Organisations can start cultivating workplace cultures that enhance well-being and mitigate stress, burnout, and other mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression, at relatively low cost, which can help your staff feel more valued and engaged. These minor adjustments can significantly improve the mental health and overall satisfaction of your team.
How we can help
If you are affected by the topics explored in this article, please reach out.
Our Training Programs
Our training team has a wide range of skills across sectors, all psychologically informed. We currently offer training courses, including Adult Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Tailored topics in stress and burnout. We can also provide training in any topics we support in our counselling practice. See Topics below.
Strategic Therapy
From stress, pressure, and burnout to relationship issues, breakups, anxiety, and depression, our comprehensive counselling service covers a wide range of topics essential for promoting mental health and overall wellbeing.
Topics we support our clients with include self-esteem, confidence, anger, grief and loss, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, OCD, workplace conflicts, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, social isolation, communication skills, boundaries, coping with change, resilience-building, mindfulness, body image, career transitions, financial stress, parenting challenges, caregiver stress, trauma and PTSD, balancing work and personal life, loneliness and isolation, emotion and nervous system regulation, assertiveness training, procrastination and motivation, positive psychology interventions, stress management techniques, relaxation exercises, conflict resolution skills, building healthy relationships, enhancing emotional a, and much awareness and much more.
Join us to explore these essentials to cultivate a healthier, more balanced life.
Comments