Workplaces are an important part of our lives. We all believe in workplaces where everyone can thrive. We also appreciate the role of employers, employees and businesses in creating thriving communities. Good mental health at work and good management go hand in hand and there is strong evidence that workplaces with high levels of mental well being are more productive. A study by the University of Warwick shows that addressing well being at work increases productivity by as much as 12%.
In 2017, an email went viral on the internet. In the email, a colleague said to another one that she wants to take a break from her work life in order to focus on her mental health. It wasn’t the email that got everyone’s attention but the CEO’s reply swept away people. The CEO thanked the employee for breaking the stigma about mental health at workplace, calling her an example for all other employees.
Numerous researches and studies point to the fact that workplaces are not immune to mental health issues. Mind Share Partners, SAP, and Qualtrics conducted a study on the prevalence of mental health challenges and stigma in workplaces. The report found that 60% of participating employees reported having a mental health condition in 2018.
As per a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental illnesses constitutes one-sixth of all health-related disorders, in which India accounts for nearly 15% of the global mental, neurological and substance abuse disorder burden. WHO predicts that by 2020, roughly 20% of India will suffer from mental illnesses. The report also estimated that India will suffer economic losses amounting to a staggering $1.03 trillion from mental health conditions between 2012 and 2030. Another study by a Mental Health Charity in UK pointed out that 42.5% of the employees in the private sector of corporate India suffer from depression or some form of anxiety disorder. The study indicated that two-thirds of people who have suffered from depression face prejudice at work or while applying for new jobs. Well the stats are shocking and revealing.
Globally, most countries are at a crossroads when it comes to how businesses address mental health at workplaces. Employees with depression miss six to 25 days of work per year and their productivity gets affected between 13% to 29% of their time at work. Globally, depression costs companies $2.5 trillion per year. The Myers-Briggs Company, a leading psychological profiling and assessments company, recently released a report on the “Always-On” Work Culture of corporate employees. The report highlighted the impact of the continuous work pressure on employees and how it leads to mental ailments.
Employers are well positioned to support the cause through awareness and put in place initiatives that support healthier and more inclusive work environments. Recently, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation partnered with the National Council for Behavioral Health to expand National Council’s Mental Health First Aid Training at Work program. The program teaches employers and employees ways to help those with mental health issues.
How some global corporations are addressing mental health at workplace
Despite global attention and initiatives to raise awareness, the stigma associated with mental health stands a major challenge for organizations. But companies have been taking steps to manage the situation before it worsens. Major global corporations like Accenture, Deloitte and Johnson & Johnson have taken up multiple initiatives to support the mental well-being of their employees.
Accenture, UK has established a “Big White Wall”, a confidential, professionally managed chat environment where employees can share their issues anonymously. The decision was taken after realizing that most people are prepared to turn to online platforms and applications for information and advice about mental health. A similar innovative step was taken up by Deloitte by appointing a Chief Wellness Officer (CWO). The CWO’s role being, putting in place initiatives promoting the physical, psychological, emotional, intellectual, and social well-being of employees. The company also launched Deloitte’s Mental Health at Work campaign that provides not only Mental Health First Aid training, but also other resources, information, and educational opportunities to improve employees’ mental, physical, and emotional health.
In order to create awareness about mental ailments, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) appointed a Mental Health Ambassador. The ambassador, with the help of J&J Mental Health Diplomats, recruited over 1000 employees in 32 countries and so far has trained more than 350 employees in Mental Health First Aid training. The company also extended its Employee Assistance program to employees’ family members, ensuring a positive well-being beyond the workplace. Companies like WeWork, American Express, E&Y, Uber have also put in place policies to support their employees cope with stress. E&Y encourages employees to communicate and discuss their personal challenges. WeWork has a program – ‘right to disconnect’ to support employees switch off and stay away from office calls and emails on weekends and after working hours. Some corporations are also getting away from ‘late working’.
Mental health issues have always been a taboo in most societies and have usually been ignored. Workplaces have a key role to play, considering that most of our work-life is spent on our desks and cubicles. It is a good time for society as well as employers to address the issue and a good start could be to accept that there is a problem, and that the problem needs to be addressed in a planned manner.