We all know that mental wellbeing is essential for a happy and productive workforce, and lots of companies look as to how they can help support employee mental health. Unfortunately, this often means putting on a yoga day or providing cake on Friday.  If you really want to support employee mental health the first place to start is looking at your day to day practices and change those that are having a negative impact on employee mental health.

Here are some of the worst workplace practices for mental wellbeing:

• Long hours and overwork: Why do some workplaces still believe that the amount of hours you work is the key sign of your dedication.  It’s old hat and not even true. Working long hours and being overworked is one of the biggest contributors to workplace stress. When employees are constantly under pressure, they are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and burnout.
• Micromanagement: Micromanagement often comes from manager anxiety and lack of trust in employees and is another major contributor to workplace stress. When employees feel like they are being constantly watched and judged, they are more likely to feel anxious and stressed.
• Lack of support: When employees feel like they don’t have the support of their manager or colleagues, they are more likely to experience mental health problems. Competitive environments are not enjoyable places to work.
• Unrealistic expectations: When employees are set unrealistic expectations they are more likely to feel stressed and overwhelmed and then be even less productive.
• Bullying and harassment: Bullying and harassment are two of the most toxic workplace practices. They can have a devastating impact on employee mental health. Remember it is the perception of the employee if bullying and harassment is taking place, not the person accused of harassment.
• Poor work-life balance: Linked to long working hours, when employees don’t have a good work-life balance, they are more likely to experience stress and burnout.

If you are an employer, it is important to be aware of the impact that your workplace practices can have on employee mental health. Here are some tips for creating a mentally healthy workplace:

• Promote a healthy work-life balance: Encourage employees to take breaks and vacations, and to leave work on time.
• Provide support to employees: Make sure employees feel comfortable coming to you or another manager with their problems.
• Set realistic expectations: Don’t overload employees with work or set unrealistic deadlines.
• Create a positive work environment: Promote respect and teamwork among employees.
• Address bullying and harassment immediately: Don’t tolerate any form of bullying or harassment in the workplace.
• Model all these behaviours yourself!

If you are an employee who is struggling with your mental health, there are a number of things you can do:

• Talk to your manager: If you feel comfortable doing so, talk to your manager about your mental health problems. They may be able to provide you with support or make changes to your work environment to help you cope.
• Talk to friends or seek professional help: If you are struggling to cope with your mental health problems just talking about it can help us feel better. If needed don’t be afraid of seeking professional help. A therapist can help you to understand and help you manage your problems.

It is important to remember that your mental health is just as important as physical health and you are not alone.