Discussing our mental health is important – especially in the workplace. Poor mental health can negatively impact productivity and concentration at work, often making job performance suffer. Although an increasing amount of people are talking about mental health, the stigma attached still makes it something many struggle with.
Following Time to Talk Day 2023, i-teachers have put together an article regarding Mental Health, and how to spot signs and try to help others.
Spotting the signs of poor mental health in the workplace can often not be straightforward. For example, you may feel more tired than usual without changing your sleeping pattern, or you may notice that you feel less engaged as usual.
Some things you should look out for:
Feeling stressed both during an outside of the workplace
Feeling less motivated
Seeing changes in your productivity
Changes in mood and appetite
Increased absenteeism
Feeling less engaged
Look out for these signs both in yourself and your colleagues. If you notice that your colleagues are displaying some of these signs, it could be a great time to open the conversation to help them feel supported and understood.
How to start talking about mental health in the workplace:
Taking time to talk one-on-one with your colleagues can create that safe and approachable environment that some will need to start their conversation.
A huge part of encouraging people to open up to you is to make yourself relatable. You don’t need to disclose anything too personal, just enough to allow your colleagues to feel understood and comfortable.
Asking open questions rather than ‘Are you ok?’- ask ‘Hey how are you feeling today?’. Instead of ‘How are things?’ – ask ‘you haven’t seemed yourself lately, is there anything I could do to help you out?’.
Are you looking to help others, and recognise the signs of poor Mental Health? Why not attend a Mental Health First Aid Course, where you will:
Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention
Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports
Practise active listening and empathy
Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma
Feel free to contact us for more information, or to book a course:
01782 438813
hello@youcandoit.training
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