Future-proof Workplace Mental Health with Employee Wellbeing Training
Employee wellbeing training should be at the top of corporate agendas. Employers must acknowledge mental health triggers in workplaces and work towards effectively supporting employees’ mental health to reduce the costs UK employers lose on productivity – up to £64 billion a year. Mental health training delivered by accredited mental health experts should be at the top of every organisation’s agenda.
Science tells us that the UK can expect an epidemic of mental health problems which could last about three to seven years before it is resolved. Issues and disorders will predominate in the areas of depression, PTSD, and grief. Early intervention is an effective way to minimise the potential harm to our mental health, and it is why Onebright offers a corporate wellness solution to support employers.
As we begin to understand the pandemic’s health footprint, organisations need to take action. Mental health needs can be invisible, especially during this incredibly challenging time. And addressing the emotional and psychological needs of an organisation is no small feat! Onebright has introduced a three-session Covid-19 intervention training programme to help organisations combat this challenge.
Onebright’s Director of Clinical and Business Operations & Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT), Shamira Graham, urges employers to understand the mental health crisis their employees could face and gives tips on supporting them.
Communicate and motivate
Do employees work to tight deadlines and have little say over their work? Over time, this lack of control can harm their mental health. We advise working closely with them to identify areas where they can make decisions and manage their time. Good communication will address and prevent mental ill-health exacerbated by work, reduce absences caused by mental health problems and support employees with a mental health conditions so they can thrive in a safe and trusted environment.
Managing worry and uncertainty is extremely important, especially throughout the pandemic. Regular company updates and check-ins will give employees the sense that they are not being left in the dark. Good leaders need to motivate their teams. Creating a strong community is imperative to achieve this. Does your team feel valued? Are you listening to their needs? By answering these questions, you will create a positive work atmosphere.
Develop necessary skills
Preventing poor mental health development is much more effective than waiting until people become ill. In troubling times, employers must be equipped with the right skills to deal with illness or trauma. Creating a ‘mental health at work’ plan is a great place to start. In addition to developing mental health policies, revising corporate strategies on sick leave and health and safety should also be considered to weave advice gained through employee mental health training throughout. Take the time to communicate these messages to all employees.
Training and awareness for all employees in mental health matters is vital. Onebright’s Impact Skills Intervention concept uses early identification principles bolstered with CBT evidence-based interventions to build resilience. We’re encouraging businesses to put their employees first, so with the right policies and employee wellbeing training in place, the organisation is rightly prepared to support mental health problems should they arise. Often employees who feel that their employers are not taking their mental health seriously are more likely to leave.
Future-proofing employee mental health
According to a recent study, three in five UK business leaders have felt more responsible for their employees’ mental health and well-being since the pandemic began. Thankfully, attitudes to mental health problems are changing for the better. The topic has become less taboo and is more openly spoken about at home and in the workplace. If employees aren’t supported to think and talk openly about mental health, they are less likely to seek support when needed.
Opening a dialogue with an employee struggling with mental health is the first step to feeling back to themselves. In some cases, counselling and CBT therapy might be the correct path to feeling better in the long term. Although, it is certainly not all doom and gloom as over half of UK businesses now claim their company has improved the provision of mental health support and benefits to support employee wellbeing – slow and steady!
Onebright’s goal is to encourage employers to put employee well-being first through employee wellbeing training. Download our corporate solutions brochure to learn more. The CBT Skills Intervention for COVID-19 protocol calls for 1-3 sessions lasting 50 minutes each. All sessions can be done online, via video conference, by telephone, or (in the future) in person. Accredited CBT therapists in London and UK facilitate the sessions.
