Today is World Mental Health Day, a declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizing the connection between mental health and work. Safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health. According to WHO, unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination, and exposure to risks like harassment and other poor working conditions can pose significant risks, affecting mental health, overall quality of life and consequently participation or productivity at work.
URC posed a question to our in-house experts to help foster greater understanding of this critical health care issue: How can colleagues become effective mental health advocates in the workplace?
Robin Goebel
Vice president, Human Resources
WHO estimates that 60% of the global population works, creating the need for urgent action to ensure work prevents risks to mental health and protects and supports mental health at work. Employers can support workers to participate and thrive in work by applying reasonable accommodations to support workers with mental health conditions. Actions can range from organizing regular supportive meetings to providing storage for medication. We can train managers to support mental health, effectively training them to be advocates. Recognizing and addressing stressors is one of the most effective ways to support teams and foster a healthier, more supportive work environment.
Regina Hechanova-Alampay, PhD
Licensed psychologist
USAID RenewHealth Project Chief of Party
Listen without judgment. Affirm that their feelings are valid and it’s okay not to be okay. Affirm healthy coping strategies and suggest self-care resources. Encourage them to seek help if needed.
Diana Chamrad, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Colleagues can promote mental wellbeing by offering an empathic ear to co-workers without jumping to conclusions or offering unsolicited advice. Simply bearing witness can have a huge positive impact where people feel listened to and accepted. Active listening includes not “pathologizing” a person’s struggles or seeing normal human responses as a disorder but understanding that emotional responses like depression and anxiety fall on a continuum and usually resolve themselves. When a co-worker’s situation escalates to where work and home life are impacted, encouraging professional help is necessary. Other actions to consider:
- Educating oneself on mental health and early signs of distress. Also knowing resources and support systems.
- Modeling healthy work behaviors like work-life balance, stress management, seeking help when needed
- Supporting policy change
Natalie Batson
Director of Finance and Administration for USAID’s HSQA Activity in Jordan
An increasing awareness of the relationship between mental health and physical health, especially in conflict-affected settings, is creating opportunities for change in Jordan. We’ve taken several steps to help our colleagues understand and take steps to address the stress of living in a war zone is having on their mental health: physical activity like walking while in the office, time away with family, even stepping away from a workstation and computer all have positive benefits. As a company, we’re working with country officials to strengthen managers’ and frontline workers’ awareness of mental health, need for stigma reduction, identifying mental health concerns, and creating referral pathways. All are critical to an employees’ mental health. Looking out for each other. That’s the most important factor.
Max Hollander (he/him)
Director of Global Compensation, Benefits, and HRIS
To become effective advocates for mental health, everyone should critically examine policies to ensure that they aren’t inadvertently creating barriers. For example, a narrowly defined sick leave policy or one that requires extra steps for approval may discourage use of leave for a “mental health day.” If you have recommendations for policy changes that support your mental health or that of your colleagues, speak up and share your thoughts.
URC has been recognized for its commitment and innovative policies to support mental health in the workplace by Mental Health America (MHA), an honor fewer than 25 percent of all applicants receive. The company was honored with the Bell Seal at the Gold level for exceeding workplace standards that promote positive worker mental health and wellbeing, an acknowledgment of the company’s commitment to embracing and advancing best practices to promote mental health in all work environments.
