The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” It describes mental health as being a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins individual and collective abilities to make decisions and build relationships.
As the global COVID-19 pandemic eventuated, it put a powerful spotlight on mental health and well-being in the workplace, ranging from life’s ups and downs to mental health conditions requiring medical diagnosis. However, while the pandemic brought attention to mental health and well-being, research shows that both had been an increasing challenge for some time. Post- pandemic, the focus on workforce mental health and well-being continues to be at the forefront, with organizations seeing an increased need for additional mental health resources.
The first step in addressing mental health and well-being issues is to break down the stigmas around the subject and emphasizing that it is OK not to be OK. Numerous studies have shown a clear correlation between addressing stigmas and enabling people to seek access to help sooner.
This paper describes how a global energy technology company developed a mental health first aid program to provide workplace access to a trained mental health responder and how this initiative helps raise awareness of the importance of good mental health in the workplace. The program uses an employee-volunteer approach, teaching individuals to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health concerns.
The return on investment for this type of program includes likely improvements to morale, an enhanced culture of care, and overall increased health, safety, and environment engagement. From an organizational perspective, the program can help contribute to reduced medical leave in the workplace over time.