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Published reports indicate mental health issues are impacting the productivity of the workplace. Google the term, workplace mental health. You’ll likely see more that 200 million search results.
As workplaces have returned to normal post-pandemic, be aware the topic of workplace violence is also trending on Google. Most assuredly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) comprehensively addresses it.
In addition to COVID-19, there can be many reasons for mental health issues.
Naturally, there are important ethical, financial and legal reasons for giving fast attention to affected workers.
Mental-health symptoms don’t appear out of the blue. Fully 50 percent of mental illness become evident in the teenage years. About 75 percent of it starts at age 24.
Usually, supervisors, coworkers, family members and friends start to spot minute changes in a person before the illness becomes seriously acute.
Early warning signs
There are multiple signs and symptoms of mental health issues:
- Appetite or sleep changes
- Mood swings in emotions or depression
- Social withdrawal
- Decrease in functions in school, social activities or work
- Problems in concentration, thought, speech or memory
- Increase sensitivity to sights, sounds, smell or touch
- Loss of desire or initiative in activities
- Vagueness or sense of unreality
- Illogical thinking
- Unusual fear or nervousness
- Peculiar or uncharacteristic behavior
One or two of these signs might not be conclusive, but they might show the person needs evaluation.
If a person is thinking about suicide, then immediate attention is warranted by a doctor or mental health professional.
Employee laziness
Poor sleep, eating habits or too much alcohol can lead to a lack of motivation. Small changes in lifestyle can often help.
But beware that depression is the most-common mental health disorder. It occurs more often in women than men.
For actual mental health issues, look for hopelessness, panic, sadness or worry.
Substance abuse
Overuse of any legal or illegal substances can lead to a wide variety of personal problems. Just like anxiety or depression, substance abuse often adversely affects health, performance and safety in the workplace.
If an issue harms work or performance, it’s best to talk with the employee. Be discreet and prepare for a confidential discussion.
You’re not a professional. Your role is to be empathetic but do not to try to diagnose the person. Remember your job is to merely point out the options for mental-health counseling.
(If you are in a large organization, tell your managers to be mindful of these precautions and refer such individuals to your human resources department.)
Ideally, the person will self-monitor their mental health and take positive actions:
- Talking about their feelings
- Staying active
- Eating well
- Abstaining or drinking in moderation
- Communicating as much as possible with others
- Asking for help
- Knowing when to pause for breaks
- Focusing on a well-balanced life
In conclusion, the welfare of your organization is paramount. Do your best to provide a positive healthcare support system and continue to make adjustments for a positive culture.
The first step for management is to recognize the signs and symptoms that something is amiss in terms of a person’s organizational health, and then take precautions.
From the Coach’s Corner, editor’s picks:
HR – Coach Away Employees’ Fears for High Performance – Crises like coronavirus have shown even your key employees can succumb to fear and stress. Here’s how to coach employees for high performance even in crises.
For Positive Staff Morale, Coach the Negative Employees – For maximum teamwork and employee morale, it behooves bosses to think and manage like coaches who have a helpful spirit. Here’s how.
Understanding Your Employees Is Key to Beat Competitors – Here are the keys to winning in your workplace and ultimately winning in your marketplace.
7 Management Tips – Communication with Difficult Employees – Multiple problems including loss of profit result from ineffectively dealing with difficult employees. Here are seven Biz Coach tips.
3 Tips to Reassure Employees about COVID-19 Benefits – The pandemic started prompting many employees to question their health insurance benefits. Take an added step to educate your workers about their options.
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.
-Winston Churchill
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