Why Mental Health Training in the Workplace is Essential
Mental health is often overlooked because there is no gaping wound to betray how much pain an individual may be experiencing. The consequences are often tragic as pleas for help go unnoticed and unheard. Those suffering with mental health challenges often view their condition with shame and do everything in their power to hide what they are going through. They feel that they are burdensome and this is a something they should never feel. Just a little understanding and flexibility goes a long way to motivating these individuals to perform at their peak and to contribute to an effective team effort.
There are some staggering statistics that hint at how widespread mental health issues are and that many of the people you engage with daily could be silent sufferers. The symptoms of some mental illnesses can put a strain on interpersonal relationships as episodes could be accompanied by irritability, short temper and irrational anger. These are things that generally don't fit well into the workplace unless the context is understood and everyone is equipped to manage such situations effectively.
Many people suffer with mental health issues
A large proportion of the workforce will experience mental health problems and this is occurring at an increasing rate. CIPD research finds that 1 in 3 people experience some form of poor mental health while in employment. This number is up from from 1 in 4 just 5 years ago. Just to get a sense of the enormity of the problem, Mental Health UK had their online health information accessed 3.6 million times in just one year.
The Alzheimer's Society UK report (2015) estimated that over 850,000 were living with dementia in 2015 and this figure was expected to rise in future. Of those, more than 40,000 were under the age of 65. This means that many people are dealing with the early stages of dementia while still working.
As many as 3 - 4% of adults sufffer with ADHD in the UK. These individuals are prone to distractions and have difficulty focussing. Some of the challenges ADHD sufferers could have relate to time management, paying attention, sitting still, attention to detail and following instructions. These are a few of the symptoms that could cause irritation, stress and anxiety.
Bipolarity is a serious mental illness that is associated with manic highs, depressive lows and large mood swings. It is difficult to diagnose correctly and this process could take an average of around 10 years to reach a diagnosis. As many as 5% of people in the UK are thought to be on the bipolar spectrum which makes it a likelihood that some of your colleagues are suffering with this illness.
The most prevalent of mental illnesses is depression. The World Health Organization reports that more than 300 million people are living with depression worldwide which is an increase of 18% between the years 2005 and 2015.
Irrespective of the mental illness, feelings of anxiety, guilt, anger and unhappiness are often byproducts. With the proper mental illness training and awareness for employees, people will be able to cope a lot better with the challenges and be inspired to be the productive individuals that they are.
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Encourage openness
Employees should be given the assurance that they can disclose any mental illness they may be dealing with and that their colleagues are sensitive to what they are going through. They should also be allowed to feel bad and, in the event of an anxiety attack for example, be allowed to take the time needed to recover. They need to be assured that they will not be judged and that they are not defined by their illness. The best way to achieve the level of trust required is to provide training for all staff and to include dealing with mental health issues as part of an employee induction programme.
Dealing with an emergency effectively
An outburst of anger in the workplace may be the result of mental illness where something, or nothing, triggered an extreme reaction. It is important to recognise the incident for what it is and to diffuse the situation with sensitivity while avoiding the risk of escalation.
A panic or anxiety attack is accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, sweating, and an overwhelming feeling of dread and anguish. The body reacts as if it's in mortal danger and triggers the fight or flight responses, and as a result, actions taken during these episodes may appear irrational and extreme to onlookers. As a bystander, knowing what to do is important. Sometimes, doing nothing and providing the person the space to deal with the attack using their own tools is the answer. Sometimes calming the individual down in some way and showing support and understanding is all that is required.
Mental health training in the workplace would provide the tools to recognise and manage these situations properly.
The physical workspace means something
You have to create an environment conducive to producing excellent work. Unfortunately, it's not a one size fits all. Some people may enjoy loud music and a lot of activity around their workplace while others may be distracted by the slightest disturbances. Try, as far as reasonably possible, to cater for each individual's needs. People with an attention disorder like ADHD may need to be positioned away from areas of high activity. Those who suffer with depression or anxiety may need to have flexible hours and be allowed to work from home on days when they are feeling ill.
Mental health issues have been around forever and it is long overdue that it be drawn out of the shadows and become universally accepted as a fact of life. A truly inclusive, diverse workplace must accept the responsibility for providing a healthy work environment stripped of all facades. Catering for those suffering with mental illnesses benefits everyone.
About the Author
Oli is a writer passionate about storytelling and the transformative power of learning. At findcourses.co.uk, he is responsible for creating useful articles that guide training buyers towards the correct L&D solutions for their needs.
