Did you know that 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness every year, and that 1 in 6 U.S. youth (aged 6-17) experience a mental health disorder annually?

Throughout the month of May, Mental Health Awareness Month was established to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues, help reduce the stigma around mental health, and recognize the importance of mental wellness.

Employees’ wellbeing is something that should be supported throughout the calendar year, not just within the month of May. Managers and leaders must create a positive workplace environment where employees feel supported. But it starts with leadership modeling positive behavior and dedicating time to show their support.

So how can you - a People Ops leader, business leader, or people manager - dedicate 60 minutes to support employees’ mental wellbeing? How can you foster a workplace that supports mental health?

We came up with 5 ways to support workplace mental health in 60 minutes or less:

1) Check in regularly with your employees, and ask about their mental health.

During your regularly scheduled 1:1 meetings, managers can carve out time to chat with their direct reports about their general wellbeing. Instead of diving immediately into a tactical 1:1, start every meeting for 5 mins about their day or life.

2) Block time on your calendar for an undisturbed lunch or mental health break.

Whether your lunch break is 30 mins or an hour, every employee should take time on their calendar dedicated to eating lunch away from their desk. Employees can use this time for a walk in their respective neighborhoods, meditation, exercise, or however they choose - it should be time spent away from their computer.

3) Encourage employees to take mental health days each quarter

Burnout is real and employees are feeling it. Model the behavior by taking time off and unplugging from work – and your employees will do the same. By taking a regular mental health day, employees will come back feeling refreshed and feeling inspired to use their vacation time. It will also help destigmatize the conversation about mental health.

4) Dedicate time for team building through mental health check-ins.

Laughter is a great way to bring teams together. Dedicate an hour to something fun with your team - and not talk about work! Whether it’s a food tasting or doing improv exercises, laughter can lift spirits up and create opportunities for bonding.

5) Invest in mental health learning experiences - intellectual stimulation is good for the mind!

Set aside 60 mins to curate a learning experience for your employees. Every engagement survey shows employees are hungry for learning experiences! Whether it’s creating a space for parents to learn about talking to their children about mental health to a workshop on showing up for others, employees want to learn together - and mental health content can bring people together while still creating a safe space to model vulnerability.

We’ve all heard the expression, “Employees don’t quit their jobs, they quit their bosses.” As business leaders, remember how much you can impact someone’s day to day mental wellbeing. Take charge and get creative in terms of things you can do to be helpful. It only takes an hour to make a lasting impression!

Did you know that 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness every year, and that 1 in 6 U.S. youth (aged 6-17) experience a mental health disorder annually?

Throughout the month of May, Mental Health Awareness Month was established to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues, help reduce the stigma around mental health, and recognize the importance of mental wellness.

Employees’ wellbeing is something that should be supported throughout the calendar year, not just within the month of May. Managers and leaders must create a positive workplace environment where employees feel supported. But it starts with leadership modeling positive behavior and dedicating time to show their support.

So how can you - a People Ops leader, business leader, or people manager - dedicate 60 minutes to support employees’ mental wellbeing? How can you foster a workplace that supports mental health?
We came up with 5 ways to support workplace mental health in 60 minutes or less:

1) Check in regularly with your employees, and ask about their mental health.
During your regularly scheduled 1:1 meetings, managers can carve out time to chat with their direct reports about their general wellbeing. Instead of diving immediately into a tactical 1:1, start every meeting for 5 mins about their day or life.

2) Block time on your calendar for an undisturbed lunch or mental health break.
Whether your lunch break is 30 mins or an hour, every employee should take time on their calendar dedicated to eating lunch away from their desk. Employees can use this time for a walk in their respective neighborhoods, meditation, exercise, or however they choose - it should be time spent away from their computer.

3) Encourage employees to take mental health days each quarter
Burnout is real and employees are feeling it. Model the behavior by taking time off and unplugging from work – and your employees will do the same. By taking a regular mental health day, employees will come back feeling refreshed and feeling inspired to use their vacation time. It will also help destigmatize the conversation about mental health.

4) Dedicate time for team building through mental health check-ins.
Laughter is a great way to bring teams together. Dedicate an hour to something fun with your team - and not talk about work! Whether it’s a food tasting or doing improv exercises, laughter can lift spirits up and create opportunities for bonding.

5) Invest in mental health learning experiences - intellectual stimulation is good for the mind!
Set aside 60 mins to curate a learning experience for your employees. Every engagement survey shows employees are hungry for learning experiences! Whether it’s creating a space for parents to learn about talking to their children about mental health to a workshop on showing up for others, employees want to learn together - and mental health content can bring people together while still creating a safe space to model vulnerability.

We’ve all heard the expression, “Employees don’t quit their jobs, they quit their bosses.” As business leaders, remember how much you can impact someone’s day to day mental wellbeing. Take charge and get creative in terms of things you can do to be helpful. It only takes an hour to make a lasting impression!

CALL TO ACTION

Electives is offering ways to support employees' mental health in the workplace. 

5 Ways to Support Employees' Mental Health in the Workplace in 60 Minutes or Less

Tue May 24 2022

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