Mental Health at Work (Mental Health Awareness Month: May 2023)
It feels like there’s constantly a new crisis being reported on 24-hour news channels and social media feeds. We spend one third of our lives at work, so it shouldn’t be surprising that our workplace and our coworkers have a significant influence on our mental well-being. HR professionals and employers have the ability to make a positive impact on employees.
Mental health in the workplace has a vital role in keeping workers happy, professional, and engaged. Many U.S. employees report that their job is hurting their mental health and that they rely on their employers to improve the workplace or run the risk of their employees leaving.
SHRM Research on employee mental health found:
1 in 3 employees report their job has had a negative impact on their mental health in the last 6 months
30% of employees report their job has made them feel overwhelmed
29% of employees report their job has made them feel anxious at least 1x/week
27% of Gen Z employees report their job has made them feel depressed 1x/week in the last 6 months
These statistics provide insight that U.S. employees do not have a positive relationship between the workplace and their mental health, and that many employees are motivated to look for a new job in hopes of a new employer placing more signficance on mental health.
What can you do to improve the mental health of your employees?
Offer mental health workshops
Offer meditation or yoga classes
Provide resources and access to tools
Pay attention to employees that may exhibit mental health challenges
Crisis Help
Examples of a mental health crisis include (but are not limited to): suicide risk, rapid mood swings, abusive behavior, paranoia, and loss of touch with reality.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out for help immediately.
Call 911: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
Call 988: This is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Crisis Text Line: Get 24/7 help from the Crisis Text Line .
PA Crisis Hotlines: If you are in PA, Find a crisis line in your county.
This information is intended for information purposes only. Any reader understands that Apex Benefit Group is not providing legal advice, tax advice, or professional services. This article serves to offer practical information regarding the subject matter and is not a comprehensive resource.
You may also be interested in:
For organizations that are just starting to explore AI, there are several straightforward applications that can enhance internal functions.