Will Mental Wellness go Mainstream in 2023?

Did you know that in 2017, India was named “Most depressing country to live in” by WHO with 1 in 7 people suffering from severe mental illness.

We have come a long way since then, only in a negative direction. The onset of Covid has accentuated and has made the already poor mental health problems of India worse than ever before.

Major factors for worsening mental health are work-related stress, financial stress, and pandemic-related challenges. In a study conducted by Deloitte, 47% of the respondents admitted their workplace to be a major stressor.

According to WHO, the poor mental health of employees costs $ 1 trillion globally in losses due to lost productivity, absenteeism, and attrition. The good thing is that WHO also found that every dollar that was spent on treating mental health is a return of $4.

Here are some ways companies can support their employees' mental health:-

1. Destigmatize mental health

Stigma is the key reason why employees don’t open up about their mental health struggles. Nearly 25% of the employees prefer to not open up about their issues for fear of their image being altered. They believe this hinders their progress in the company. Destigmatizing is essential. For instance, leaders can lead by example by talking about their state of mind openly with their colleagues. This creates a safe environment where everyone and anyone can open up and talk freely about their mental health struggles in the organization.

2. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Employee assistance programs (EAP) are work-based intervention programs that are created to assist an employee and resolve problems in any area of their life that may affect their work performance. These wellness programs can be beneficial in managing stress and the overall well-being of employees. Covering therapy in health insurance is another way a company can promote mental wellness among employees. Creating awareness about the availability of resources and encouraging utilizing those resources is just as important.

3. Encouraging positive habits

Conducting meditation, yoga sessions, and mindfulness training could be great for the overall health of your employees. Encouraging taking downtime, and inculcating a “no meeting days” policy are some of the ways companies can ensure mental well-being in the workplace. Companies like Wakefit have included nap time in their employees’ schedules to get refreshed and rejuvenated.

4. Creating a positive work environment

People spend the majority of their time at their workplace. Your work environment influences the quality of work you put in. Creating a conducive and collaborative environment where good ideas are appreciated so that employees can thrive in their work environment can work wonders. It can increase a company's credibility in the eyes of its employees, resulting in lesser labor turnover.

(This article is written by Karishma Chandnani from TechDoQuest (TDQ), in partnership with NewsMeter. Views expressed by TDQ do not reflect that of our media organization).