Improving Your Mental Health at Work
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing. The state of our health influences every aspect of our lives and defines our productivity.
The major problems in most work environments stem from oppressive superiors: bullying, insults, humiliation and embarrassment; psychological, physical or sexual harassment; work overload; hostile and unfriendly environment; poor or irregular remuneration and rigid working hours and lack of consideration or flexibility for example – to pregnant or nursing mothers.
However there are measures we can take to tackles such instances
Talk about the problem: Learn to constructively talk a lot any issues you face at your work place and to the appropriate channel for proper guidance.
Engage with your employers: Happy and motivated staff are more productive and loyal. It is estimated that the lost productivity due to depression and anxiety alone costs 1 trillion US dollars every year.
Be nice to each other: Encourage everyone to be nice and to have a warm and friendly office environment. When you are nice to each other, it stimulates the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain. These helps to lift your mood, makes you feel cared for and appreciated, and increases your alertness and motivation to work. Such a work environment is one you would look forward to every day.
Mentor junior colleagues: Sometimes, you find an adult so completely shattered by how harshly he or she has been dealt with by a superior at work that they simply break down and weep. We should be more humane and considerate – even while correcting mistakes.
Equity and justice as guiding principles: Allocating according to need is equity. For example, it is clear that a pregnant woman who has just put to bed is certainly in greater need of time to recuperate and nurse the new born baby for a while than the father. Thus, it is equitable for women to have a long maternity leave.
Reduce stigma and discrimination: Many people with a diagnosis of mental health challenges are too ashamed and embarrassed to come out. For fear that people will laugh at them, they dismiss them as lazy or no longer consider them worthy of any responsibility.
Provide a supportive and enabling environment for people to feel safe to share their health challenges – knowing they will receive support and understanding.
Stop workplace harassment and bullying: The organisation should have zero tolerance for workplace bullies who psychologically terrorise other workers, or engage in physical or sexual harassment in the workplace. Their punishment should be decisive.
Appreciate and reward loyalty and hard work: Words of appreciation for outstanding staff and some reward will go a long way to help them feel appreciated and valued.
Flexible working hours: You can negotiate days to work from home, or agree to work half days, or some days in a week, in order to have time for other things such as looking after a child with a disability at home; or to accommodate picking the children from school.