Staff mental health; spotting signs and offering support

According to Mind the mental health charity, 1 in 6 workers are dealing with mental wellbeing problems such as stress, anxiety or depression. So, as an organisation, are you really doing all you can to help staff mental health? 

 

Often, it’s hard to spot, particularly if it’s something they don’t feel comfortable with sharing  – but by caring and offering support, it sends a message to the rest of the workforce about the organisation’s values.

 

It’s so important employees can recognise that their company stands by its values and treats its staff well. Trust, integrity and openness about mental health are just three areas a company can be transparent about when discussing with employees the subject of mental health.

 

Employee mental health and us

 

Remember! We ALL have mental health, and it can be impacted by factors in and out of work.

 

Beginning the conversation about mental health doesn’t have to be awkward or difficult either – and groups such as Mind, can show you how to effectively support your staff and increase employee engagement, motivation and productivity. 

 

Staff and mental health; starting the conversation

 

One suggestion is to encourage senior managers and line managers to make mental health a priority and consider it as a vital part of their day-to-day operation. It’s why managers and people who head departments, should build up people’s confidence by performing simple tasks such as asking staff regularly how they’re doing.Building a strong relationship with your direct reports means they will feel more comfortable to talk.

 

Another issue might be that people worry about how to start the initial conversation about a person’s mental health. There’s no secrets or special skills required – just the basics such as showing empathy, listening when required, and being approachable to those who come forward with different mental health concerns.  

When nothing is done, that’s when problems can spiral out of control, but noticing a possible issue might not be as difficult as you think. For example, you may have seen a change in someone’s behaviour or mood, changes to their work output, changes in eating habits, noticed they appear tired or anxious, or have witnessed someone struggling to make decisions and get organised. 

 

There’s other things that can be done to help motivate people and help staff. You can help to keep staff morale high all year in other ways, and reward them with ASDA Business gift cards.

 

Get business gift cards from a brand you know and trust. For over 50 years Asda has been offering the very best value. Our 600+ stores and George.com give customers a chance to shop from thousands of products from spaghetti to baked beans to bedding.

For over a decade we’ve been providing businesses (of all sizes) and organisations, with gift card solutions for their staff, colleagues and customers. So say hello to business gift cards that deliver so much more than a gift.

 

Whether you want gift cards for staff that will reward, incentivise, and motivate, or business gift cards to build customer loyalty, talk to us. Our dedicated and experienced account team is on hand to help you.