WHO Pushes for Better Mental Health Intervention in the Workplace

With 970 million worldwide now living with a mental illness or disorder, their recommendations are being readily received. This evidence-backed document is a must-have for CEOs and staff, helping everyone feel more confident tackling mental health head-on.

We’ve taken a look through the guidelines and created a run-through of everything you need to know. Let’s dive into it.

Mental illnesses are costing the economy

WHO estimates that around 15% of adults at any one point in time are struggling with mental illness. Many of these people are currently in work, but very few are getting the help and support they need. Because of this, mental health is costing our economy $1 trillion every year. It’s vital that employers stand up to the challenge to start cutting those costs and building confidence around mental illness in the workplace.

To help you do just that, WHO has created guidance that’s based on three crucial strategies:

• Prevent
• Protect and promote
• Support

Preventing mental health problems in the workplace

Prevention is all about reducing the likelihood of staff developing mental health problems in the first place. We all know that work and wellness are intrinsically linked, and with a huge chunk of life being spent in the workplace, this is a key spot for mental illness prevention.

In one study of 5,000 employees, over 70% reported that work affected their mental health, with a further 83% agreeing that it left them emotionally drained. That has to change.

Prevention in the workplace comes in a variety of forms. Ensuring your staff has a safe, welcoming environment to work in, that they are given tasks that are fulfilling, and that there is a culture of positivity and kindness, for example. If you’re struggling to know where you can improve, conduct an anonymous survey of staff and use their feedback to give you direction.

Protecting and promoting

A key aspect of helping your staff is being able to spot the signs of mental illness in the first place. This is where WHO recommends protecting and promoting. This strategy involves training your staff and raising awareness of mental health, improving knowledge in your workplace.

When staff can spot signs of mental health problems in their peers, there’s a better chance of early intervention and help. This is particularly crucial in management staff and your HR team, both of whom have a responsibility to maintain employee wellbeing.

It also encourages more open communication. By hiring professionals to speak about mental health and training your staff, you help them to be open and honest about their experiences. When more people are able to speak out, the more support we can give.

Support in the workplace

Whether you’re aware of mental health issues in your workplace or not, you must provide support. 91% of employees think organizations should provide mental health support, and if you don’t have a system in place to do that, now’s the time to create one.

Support can come in all sorts of forms, including ensuring staff know they can talk to you when they’re struggling and not discriminating against those with mental illnesses. It also means directing them towards therapists, treatment centers that are tailored to working professionals, and other medical experts who can help. Being able to not only listen but actively help your employees on their journey to wellness is vital in the modern workplace.

Trained managers are essential

WHO also shines a light on the importance of having properly trained managers. When your senior staff knows how to support employees, the whole team feels more confident in dealing with mental health. It also reduces stigma and encourages those who need help to seek it.

The report found that the benefits were more commonly seen when training was given twice a year during work hours.

Sign-up to WHO’s mental health commitment

WHO’s Mental Health at Work Commitment is a pledge that employers can take to show their support for promoting mental wellness. It provides a framework based on acknowledged standards and up-to-date research, giving you a helping hand at improving mental health support in your workplace.

The aim of this commitment and the new guidelines is to raise awareness of how someone’s job can affect their wellbeing, and what employers can do about it. It identifies triggers such as:

• Long hours
• Poor job security
• Poor management

By reading the guidelines and signing up to the commitment, you can start making a change for the better.

Final thoughts

Mental health in the workplace is a serious issue. Hopefully, reading this article and learning more about WHO’s new guidelines has made it clear just how vital it is that employers put support in place and how you can kickstart that journey today.