How to Start Mental Health Conversations at Work
Oftentimes, it’s easy to notice when things feel off at the office. You’re around your employees for roughly 40 hours a week and get to know them really well. While you may know something is going on within an employee’s mind and life, you may not know how to breach the topic without crossing boundaries.
In this article, we share how to start mental health conversations at work. Let this be your guide to helping you and your team open up to be healthier, happier humans.
Create a safe space.
The first step to starting mental health conversations at work is to create a safe space. Allow not only the work environment to be a safe space, but work on you becoming a safe space for employees as well.
During team meetings, discuss mental health or different mental health offerings that are included in your benefits plans. When they know that you and your company cares about prioritizing mental health, they will know that they’re in a space that is safe to open up and talk.
When you’re ready to offer a listening ear, create a casual and open environment where you can talk with the employee. You don’t want to put any pressure on them opening up and you don’t want to create a big deal out of it if they choose not to open up.
Just knowing that it’s a safe space will allow them to ease into conversations.
Listening without trying to fix it.
When the person begins to share what is going on in their world, actively listen to them. Let them speak without interrupting them. It’s important for them to feel like they have the space and time to share. When you do speak, don’t try to “fix” the problem for them.
For many, just knowing that someone is there and cares enough to listen is a huge step in easing their anxieties and stress.
Don’t overstep, you’re not a therapist.
To continue on the note from above, be mindful of your position within the company and don’t overstep your boundaries. You are not a therapist and your employee doesn’t need you to diagnose them or psychoanalyze the situation. They need to know that they’re appreciated and cared for and people in the company prioritize their wellbeing.
If you’re worried about the employee, you can remind them of the different mental health offerings within your benefits plan. You can also encourage them to seek more professional help.
Professionally trained support services know how to help your employee past your active listening.
Continue checking in.
Once the conversation starts, allow it to be one that is continually had. A team member wants to feel the ongoing support, not the one conversation that feels like a boss “has to have”.
Instead, continue to check in. See how they’re feeling, encourage movement, get out in the sunshine during lunch, go on walking meetings and simply ask what they need. Once they feel like they’re safe and being heard, your team member may feel ready to let you know what they really need to move past the mental health slump they’re in.
Champion mental health conversations in the office.
Finally, if you take anything from this article, it’s the importance of championing mental health conversations in the office. Mental health conversations have become an important part of any office.
Employees appreciate having a boss who’s open about mental health and encourages their employees to be the best versions of themselves. Bosses who do this know that in return, they’ll have happier and healthier employees. This creates a higher employee retention and the overarching desire to work for a company that cares.
There are so many ways to champion mental health in your office. Our favourite way is through different options within your benefits plan. Nowadays, there are so many mental health focused options. From counseling services to different wellness account categories to encouraging physical exercise to help lower stress and anxiety.
If you’re ready to take your benefits plan to the next level through mental health services, please reach out to Navy & Sage Benefits today. With our help, you’ll start more mental health conversations at work while providing your employees with the opportunity to work on themselves in a supportive and encouraging way.
