The topic of mental illness has been on the rise in recent years and the effects of it are being felt in a number of different industries. One in six workers are likely to be suffering with some form of mental health problem, according to a Deloitte report, which means that over 30 million employees in Europe alone could be struggling. How we feel on a daily basis can have a huge impact on how we perform at work, which in turn affects how your business performs. By focusing more on the mental wellbeing of your staff with the help of an HR system, you can encourage a greater range of benefits within your organisation. Here are some of the benefits to positive mental health in the workplace.
Improved Turnover
Most people would agree that they work better when they’re feeling their best. But if you’re unhappy, you’re often more distracted and find it difficult to focus. This is especially the case for people who struggle with mental health, as it can really affect their ability to work on tasks and deal with stress effectively. Many businesses find that mental health has the greatest financial impact on their organisation compared to any other health issue, so investing in your staff’s wellbeing is beneficial not just to your employees but also your business.
Greater Productivity
Studies have made direct links between the severity of mental health conditions and the level of productivity in the individual. The more depressed or anxious a person feels, the less productive they are likely to be. The notion of being at work without being able to work is known as presenteeism. This concept doesn’t even consider the number of days the individual may need to take off from work due to their mental health issues. By taking a proactive approach within your organisation in terms of the mental health of your staff, you’ll see a greater improvement in productivity which ultimately improves your bottom line.
Greater Cohesion Within Teams
Half of all workers with an anxiety disorder find that it interferes with their ability to maintain positive relationships with their colleagues. The dynamics of a team are impacted by mental health, whether it’s through an individual’s ability to progress with tasks that impact others or the ability to involve themselves within a collaborative environment. As a result, group projects can fall off track very easily. In order to maintain greater cohesion between team members, it’s important to prioritise the mental health of employees and ensure that they aren’t struggling in silence.
A Positive Workplace Culture
In addition to impact the team, mental health can also impact the overall organisation and workplace culture. It’s important to implement a comprehensive mental health strategy within
the business that encourages staff to feel supported. A fun and collaborative work culture helps employees to feel happier at work and also encourages new talent to join the business as the organisation expands which helps to create a smoother recruitment process.
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