May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And this year, in the wake of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to prioritize mental wellbeing for yourself and your team.
As a leader, there’s a lot you can do to support your team’s mental wellbeing, and it all comes down to knowing the signs and implementing the right strategies.
Here’s what to look out for, plus five strategies you can start implementing for Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond.
Mental Health Struggles: 5 Signs to Watch Out For
Mental health struggles could be diagnosed conditions like clinical depression or anxiety, but they can also simply be a product of the culminating effects of daily workday stressors that are causing you pain. Either way, mental health will impact most of us in some way at some point.
As a leader, you want to set your team up for success. And this includes understanding the signs the signs that your team’s mental health might be struggling.
But how can you tell? There are a few signs, like:
- Decreased performance.
- Stress and burnout; inability to cope with deadlines or work pressures.
- Lack of interest and engagement.
- Increasing absenteeism and days off.
- Behavioral changes around sleeping, eating, or personal hygiene.
If you notice any of these signs, pay attention. But even if you don’t observe outward signs, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any issues. Some people function “normally” even if they’re struggling. It’s important to build support systems in your workplace to help people when they need it.
Mental Health America has also created a free Mental Health Toolkit. This, plus their other resources, provide an excellent starting point on how to recognize when you need help and what to do about it.
5 Ways to Support Your Team’s Mental Wellbeing
Whether you’re noticing signs that your team is struggling or you simply want to get ahead of the ball and ensure you’re creating the most supportive work environment possible, here are five strategies you can use.
1. Connect Intentionally
Connection is vitally important. We’re all social beings—even the most die-hard WFH advocate needs some level of interaction and community.
So, create a culture of intentional connection and communication. This generates space for open conversation about workload, stress, or general wellbeing.
Wondering how to do it? Try this:
- Schedule weekly or bi-weekly one-on-one meetings—and don’t cancel them!
- Keep your door open—physically or symbolically. Let your team know you’re always there to talk.
- Make an effort to connect socially and personally with each person.
2. Model Healthy Habits
Leaders set the tone of a workplace. What you model, others will follow. That’s why it’s important for leaders and employers to model healthy habits that promote mental wellbeing. This includes:
- Work-life balance: Do you take your breaks, leave on time, and go on vacation? Your employees are watching to determine what’s the “norm” on the job.
- Openness and vulnerability: You don’t have to overshare, but opening up and letting your team into your own struggles and challenges allows them to be open, too.
Healthy habits also make you, well, healthier. And if you’re in a healthy space, you’ll be a better leader.
3. Evaluate Workplace Benefits and Procedures
Whether you have an HR team or lead your company’s HR initiatives on your own, it might be time to re-evaluate workplace benefits and procedures.
Here are some things to consider:
- Are there any allowances for mental health days?
- Is counseling or other types of mental health support covered by insurance?
- Do you have bereavement leave or allowances for other life circumstances?
- How generous is the PTO?
- Is there a workplace safety policy to help create a safe and inclusive work environment?
The resources, size, and needs of your company or team will determine what kind of benefits you can offer. But it all comes down to this question: is it obvious that mental health is a priority for our team?
4. Have Fun
We’re all about embracing the hustle! But if it’s the only priority, you’ll lower team morale. Make space for fun and relaxation in the workplace. It goes a long way to reducing stress and creating a positive, engaging workplace.
Here are some ideas:
- Plan a team event: happy hour, mini-golf, an escape room, or a local show.
- Celebrate milestones and birthdays.
- Tell jokes or ask ice breaker questions for virtual meetings to make them more fun.
- Create an optional Slack channel or WhatsApp group dedicated to fun talk, meme-sharing, and GIFs—no work talk allowed!
5. Reduce Stress by Managing Workloads
Stress is an inevitable part of work. But non-stop stress is unnecessary, and it can be harmful.
Instead of managing stress, consider working to actually reduce or eliminate it. Start by collecting feedback from your team. Ask questions like:
- How is your current workload?
- If you had more time, what changes or improvements would you make?
- Are you happy with your outcomes?
- What can the team and leadership do to support you?
Then, listen. Take in the feedback and readjust workloads where necessary. When employees have a clear picture of their responsibilities and enough time to do them, they can operate at a high level and avoid stress and burnout.
Coworking Spaces Promote Mental Wellbeing
Coworking is proven to help remote workers and employees that work from home to establish a healthier work-life balance. This helps to draw boundaries between home and work, and maintaining your home as a place of sanctuary. Coworking spaces provide you with much-needed interaction in communal spaces and designated places to get work done. All in all, this helps you to take intentional breaks, socialize with others, and do more focused work. Ultimately, coworking spaces can help you relax and reduce your stress levels, even on a hectic day.
Mental Health Awareness Month encourages us to take some time to consider how you can better support your team’s mental wellbeing. The steps you take and the strategies you implement can make a big difference.
Looking for a professional workspace to help you and your team do your best work? Book a tour of your local Launch Workplace today.
