Welcome to Mental Health Month. You've all heard the analogy of someone pulling people out of the river and never thinking to move upstream and figure out why they're falling in in the first place.
When it comes to mental health, including looking at many modern workplace wellbeing initiatives, I feel like we're still pulling people out of the river despite the alluring potential of moving upstream. Given the momentum in recent years surrounding mental health awareness and advocacy campaigns I'm more optimistic that some now see the opportunity to move upstream; to leverage the awareness and shift the focus from simply promoting awareness of mental health problems, to instead promoting the opportunities around proactive mental fitness and wellbeing.
Rather than solely emphasizing mental illness awareness and treatment, prioritizing proactive measures can foster resilience, enhance overall quality of life, and prevent the onset of mental health challenges.
From a business perspective, there is an abundance of recent data showing that employees are sick of being stressed, tired, anxious, and burned out. More and more employees are seeking organizations that are more proactive in fostering a work environment and culture that supports mental wellbeing. What's more, organizations with a strong focus on mental wellbeing often report higher levels of employee engagement, satisfaction, and morale. We know these things lead to more innovative and competitive businesses.
Surveys conducted by organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and Deloitte have consistently shown that employees increasingly expect their employers to prioritize mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
According to a study by Mind Share Partners, SAP, and Qualtrics, 60% of employees have left or are considering leaving their jobs due to poor mental health support. Conversely, companies that prioritize mental wellbeing are more likely to attract and retain top talent.
Younger generations place a high value on workplace mental health initiatives and we know that Millennial and Gen Z employees are more likely to prioritize mental wellbeing when evaluating potential employers.
So a yoga class, mindfulness webinar or meditation app isn't going to cut it. Mental health first aider training and EAPs are simply aimed at continuing to pull people out of the river. Don't get me wrong - continuing to improve awareness and support services are critically important - but they're no longer where the real opportunity is. The real opportunity, the real people and business value comes from shifting upstream and becoming proactive. Improving and maximizing mental and cognitive performance as opposed to merely managing when it goes awry.
Proactive approaches focus on equipping individuals with the tools and resources needed to intervene early, potentially averting the escalation of mild distress into more severe mental health challenges.
Furthermore, proactive mental wellbeing initiatives foster a sense of empowerment and agency among individuals. By promoting the idea that mental health is not solely determined by external factors or genetic predispositions, but also by one's daily choices and behaviors, proactive approaches empower individuals to take an active role in their own mental wellbeing. This shift from a passive recipient of treatment to an engaged participant in self-care can be profoundly empowering and transformative.
The benefits go beyond mental health. Proactive mental wellbeing behaviors have far-reaching implications that extend to physical health, cognitive performance, quality and safety, and relationships. By fostering resilience and emotional intelligence, these practices contribute to more supportive and cohesive communities and organizations. When individuals prioritize their mental wellbeing, and it is supported by proactive organizational factors, they're better equipped to navigate interpersonal conflicts, communicate effectively, and extend empathy towards others. All of this helps nurture happier, healthier, and more productive workplaces where people can thrive.
So don't simply do more of the same this Mental Health Awareness Month. Instead use it's time in the spotlight to shift perspective and make more of a positive proactive impact!
Want to learn how HBD is helping organizations systematically impact their workforce health and wellbeing behaviors as well as providing innovative leadership training to help improve organizational factors that impact worker wellbeing, health, and performance? Please reach out and connect, we'd love to learn about your workplace and share insight into how we've helped others build award winning health and safety cultures.