Mental well-being is growing more important in the workplace. Employers are increasingly focusing on wellnessand resources related to the well-being of their workers; employees that feel a sense of belonging somewhere aremore likely to be happy and healthy and stay at an organization long-term. In turn, good mental well-being mayhave positive effects on the workplace, such as increased recruitment and retention results.
What Is Mental Well-being?
MentalHealth.gov describes mental well-being as encompassing emotional, psychological and social well-being,which is how people think, feel and act. Mental well-being is important in every stage of life because it helpsdetermine how someone handles stress and interacts with other people, and it also influences their choices. Mentalwell-being will fluctuate throughout life as someone experiences highs and lows.
If an individual is affected by mental health problems over the course of their life, their experience, thinking, mood and behavior could be impacted. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
- Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
- Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
- Family history of mental health problems
The following are all parts of positive mental well-being:
- Feeling a sense of self-acceptance
- Having a sense of self as part of something greater
- Possessing a sense of self that is independent rather than dependent on others for identity or happiness
- Knowing and using unique character strengths
- Feeling a desire for continued growth
- Having and pursuing interests
- Knowing and remaining true to values
Mental well-being has five core elements: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment.
How to Improve Mental Well-being
While controlling external factors that impact mental well-being isn’t always possible, there are ways to improve mental well-being and bounce back from adversity. To improve the mental well-being of employees in the workplace, employers can try some of these tips:
- Make sure that workloads are an appropriate amount.
- Have managers meet regularly with employees to facilitate communication.
- Address negative and illegal actions in the workplace immediately—do not tolerate bullying, discrimination or any similar behaviors.
- Recognize and celebrate employees’ successes. This contributes to morale and decreases stress levels.
- Provide employees with the education and tools they need to manage time and tasks, cope with daily stressors and prevent stress from damaging their health. For example, employers may present a stress management class or provide educational materials.
- Establish and promote an employee assistance program (EAP). If an employee is significantly stressed, they may seek unhealthy ways to cope with their stress. Offering an EAP can help employees get the help they need.
Giving employees the tools to be successful is important to an organization. Communicate your commitment to mental well-being with employees and reach out to find more ways to create a space of mental well-being.
