HEALTH
Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace Esha Shoker
A
s a society we have an individual responsibility to talk about mental health the same way we discuss other ailments. An early diagnosis yields the best results. “A problem shared is a problem halved.” Although more is being done today to raise mental health awareness, we still have a long way to go. Recently I have noticed mental health developments take place in education, medical facilities, and workplaces. Schools across BC have made mental health education mandatory, starting in Kindergarten. Children are taught mindful meditation or ways to calm down if they are feeling heightened and teachers place emphasis on talking about feelings. As a therapist I work mostly with adults; many of my clients have shared their feelings about mental health in the workplace. Unfortunately, the workplace can be a stress/anxiety inducer or accelerator. Although many workplaces have implemented increased breaks and mental health days, we can be doing more to help make the workplace a more inclusive place. What can we do to improve our working environments so they are more mental health inclusive?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Good health cannot simply be measured by what we eat or how much we exercise. Good health must also be measured by what we are thinking or feeling. Therefore, it is imperative to create safe spaces to have open conversations about how we are feeling and what we are thinking; that is just as important as having discussions about our physical health.
Open discussions about how we are feeling and what we are thinking should be had more often in the workplace.
The pandemic impacted billions of people worldwide in various ways. Now with COVID slowly ending, many workplaces are expecting employees to return to the office. For many, the transitions have been challenging and affected their mental health.
During the pandemic I noticed many new clients reached out for therapeutic help. Pre-COVID mental health awareness was on the rise but once the pandemic started, we did not have time to brace ourselves; many of us had to jump feet-first with our eyes closed.
If we can openly discuss what we are doing to help our physical health, we should be doing the same when it comes to our mental health. For example, “I recently joined a new gym, I feel healthier after exercising,” should be considered the same as, “I recently started therapy and it is helping me sort through my thoughts and feelings.” BC Notaries Association
The pandemic impacted billions of people worldwide in various ways. Now with COVID slowly ending, many workplaces are expecting employees to return to the office. For many, the transitions have been challenging and affected their mental health.
Employers need to talk about mental health in the workplace. It is really that simple. When you are in a position of power, others listen; believe it or not your employees will reciprocate and mirror the energy and attitudes you set in the workplace. The mental health conversations cascade down an organization in the most positive way. If you feel you are going to make people uncomfortable by speaking about mental health, you are wrong. By starting the dialogue, you give your employees the Volume 31, Number 2, Fall 2022