Mental Health

Discussing Mental Health Issues in the Workplace

It can be a challenge to discuss mental health issues in the workplace. There are, however, some best practices that you can follow that can help make the conversations a little easier and more beneficial for all parties involved.

As anybody who has previously lived with mental health issues knows, you cannot simply leave them at the door when you walk into the workplace. The things on your mind that are weighing you down will be with you at home and at work and can interfere with your productivity and relationships with colleagues.

To get your employees the help and support they need, you should do your best to be as approachable as possible. Plucking up the courage to talk about mental health issues can be challenging, but there are some best practices that can be followed to make sure your team know you’re always there when they need you.

Engaging With Your Employees

As a leader, you may find that your employees may bring up their concerns related to mental health with you. However, in most cases, it’s likely that they won’t. As such, you should always make an effort to connect with employees with whom you can notice a big difference in performance or behavior.

If someone doesn’t seem their usual self or are experiencing performance-related issues, you may think it’s best to initiate the dialogue yourself. It’s essential to be tactful and ask open-ended questions. For example, “you don’t seem yourself today, how are things doing?” or “is there anything we can help you with to lighten your load?”

Keep in mind, it may be the case that your employee is just having a bad day, so be mindful of how you engage and be consistent with your offers of support. Consider sending out occasional emails reminding your team that your door is always open, should they need it.

How Benely Can Support You and Your Team

At Benely we understand that mental health conditions can be life changing and that getting support for them is something best done sooner rather than later. We help your business get the absolute best in health insurance plans from the biggest carriers in the United States.  Benely also provides great additional benefits, such as EAP programs for your employees to help with everything wellness.