Mental Health Awareness Month is observed every May. The goal is to raise awareness of individuals living with mental or behavioral health concerns and reduce the stigma of mental illness.
Mental health includes a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It impacts how they think, feel, behave, handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.
A person’s mental health can affect their physical health. For instance, a person experiencing depression has an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
As a result, you should be regularly checking in on your employees to discuss their mental health and offer support. These suggestions can help.
Choose among these methods to regularly check on your employees’ mental health.
Discuss Your Mental Health Issues
Openly talk with your employees about your own mental health concerns. Include the steps you take to manage these issues.
Perhaps you regularly engage in deep breathing, mindfulness, or meditation. Maybe you practice yoga, go for walks, or run each day. Or, you might talk with a therapist once a week.
Sharing your personal experiences with mental health concerns builds trust with your employees. It also encourages them to seek help when needed.
Engage in One-to-Ones
Regularly meet with each of your employees. Encourage them to talk about their workloads, current events, and feelings. Find out whether your employees have any questions, issues, or concerns they want to share.
Actively listen to each employee. Ask follow-up questions to gather more information. Restate what you heard to check your understanding.
Remain empathetic throughout each discussion. Offer support and resources to help your employees.
Promote Employee Self-Care
Remind your employees how essential it is to take care of their personal needs throughout the day. This includes taking regular breaks, saying “no” when needed, and not working past designated hours.
Encourage your employees to talk with you about any struggles they experience. Remind your team that their well-being is a top priority.
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