How to Promote Employee Wellbeing and Mental Health

Developing programs to support mental health in the workplace should be a priority. Risks to mental health in the workplace include: poor team cohesion, insufficient support for employees, bullying and psychological harassment, poor management and communication policies and difficulty working. Individuals across all levels of an organization need support for their mental wellbeing, and the responsibility of promoting a culture that supports mental health falls on managers, leaders and HR professionals. 

When creating a plan to support mental health, managers and leaders can divide their efforts into three categories:

1. Prevention and planning
2. Support and understanding
3. Measuring and growing

There are seven key preventative and planning steps employers can take:

1. Addressing modifiable risk factors
2. Developing policies concerning harassment prevention
3. Promoting mental health literacy
4. Reducing the stigma surrounding mental health
5. Rewarding metrics like creativity and teamwork
6. Offering a safe, quiet space for breaks and relaxation
7. Addressing individual and organizational concerns when building a company culture.

To learn more, check out this infographic created by the Rider University Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program.