Breaking The Stigma: Strategies For Promoting
Mental Health Conversations In The Workplace

Employers understand the importance of employees being present and productive at work, but oftentimes, they neglect to think about employee mental health. Not creating an open, supportive environment and failing to recognize signs of mental illness can lead to an unhealthy workplace.

The stigma around mental health can make it difficult to start conversations about this important issue, but employers must try to normalize it. To achieve this, companies should actively promote mental health in the workplace.

Here Are Some Strategies To Get Started:

Prioritize Open Communication

As employers, it is essential to create a safe environment for employees to talk about their mental health openly. Hence it’s crucial to ask open questions like –
“How are you today?”
“I noticed you haven’t seemed yourself lately; how are you doing?
“What support do you have in place? Are there people you can talk to?”
“I want you to know that if you need someone to talk to, I’m here to listen.”

Regular Check-In

Encourage regular check-ins with your employees to show that you value their mental health, not just ask out of obligation. When employees trust you enough to communicate their mental health openly, it’s important not to stop at one day but follow up again. Consistent check-ins help employees feel supported and seen, reinforcing their connection to your organization. In this way, employers can
successfully start promoting mental health in the workplace.

Reassure Them That Support Is Available

People may not always be ready to talk straight away, which is why you should outline what support is available. Ensure them that your door is always open, and they can speak to you anytime. Let them know you’ll make sure they get the assistance they require. Signpost them to resources such as your EAP, useful
contacts, and online mental health support, or suggest a visit to a doctor.

Offer Wellness Action Plans And Wellness Benefits

Encourage employees to care for their physical and mental well-being with tailored Wellness Action Plans (WAPs). These WAPs can help your employees identify what they need to do to stay healthy, both in and out of the workplace. Empower them to understand their working styles, triggers, and responses that allow them to communicate with their line managers.

Furthermore, make sure your staff has access to the necessary resources to maintain their emotional and mental well-being, such as flexible working hours, time off for mental health breaks and access to therapy and counselling services. Doing so will demonstrate to your employees that their well-being is paramount and will lead to a culture of productivity and happiness.

The stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace can create significant challenges for individuals and businesses. To break this stigma and promote a healthy culture of communication and acceptance, organizations should implement evidence-based strategies for creating a culture of open discussion on mental health.

By breaking the stigma and creating a productive and safe environment for addressing mental health concerns, workplaces can support all employees’ well-being.

At Samvedna Care, we understand the effect of day-to-day stress on employees and its similar result on their performance. As a technology-led mental wellness platform, we strive to create a comfortable, open and relaxed working space for the employees by engaging in sessions and activities that help us to intervene and offer solutions to their problems.