The importance of an individual’s mental health
The workplace is one of the key environments that affect our mental wellbeing and health. There is an acknowledgement and growing awareness of the role of work in promoting or hindering mental wellness and its corollary – mental illness. Although it is difficult to quantify the impact of work alone on personal identity, self-esteem and social recognition, most mental health professionals agree that the workplace environment can have a significant impact on an individual’s mental well-being. (Harnois, G. 2002)
Employee health is important for the social and economic benefits that add materially to individual and national wellbeing. Stress in the workplace may have a pervasive effect on employees, leading to exhaustion, anxiety and depression, and even substance abuse. Repeated changes in the workplace can precipitate additional stress. It is well recognized that stress contributes to high levels of absenteeism in the workplace. Stressors have been defined as a set of circumstances which have an adverse impact on a person's equilibrium.
• Freedom from coercion
• Job security
• Fair income
• Job protection that includes social security
• Respect and dignity at work
• Workplace participation
• Enrichment and lack of alienation (Ditton, M. Gabriel,P. 2014)
The focus here is upon actions that foster the overall psychological health of the workforce. Psychological/mental health promotion does not target specific disorders, but rather helps the average employee improve his or her psychological well-being. It is likely that improved wellbeing will create greater resistance to psychological health difficulties. Psychological health promotion is related to the concept of positive psychological health. This is the idea that positive qualities like problem solving, self-efficacy, resiliency, creativity and spiritual growth are critical features of good psychological health.
“We at the CBI are convinced that the mental health of a company’s employees can have an important impact on business performance in the same way as do industrial relations climate or inadequate training. That is why the CBI continues to add its voice to the campaign to raise the profile of mental health as a workplace issue.” (Howard D, Director General, Confederation of British Industry, N.D.).
References
Harnois,G. Gabriel,P. (2014) ISBN 92 4 159037 8Mental healthand work:Impact, issues and good practices. Geneva: World Health Organization.
(Mary Ditton, 2014)
WORKSPAN DAILY (2021) Employee Mental Health Struggles Continue to Increase in U.S.[online] USA: WORKSPAN DAILY. Available from: https://www.worldatwork.org/workspan/articles/employee-mental-health-sruggles-continue-to-increase-in-u-s [Accessed 28 March 2021].
French, L. (2020) Businesses must do more to support their employees’ mental health.[online] London: World News Media. Available from: https://www.worldfinance.com/strategy/businesses-must-do-more-to-support-their-employees-mental-health [Accessed 28 March 2021].
SingaporeAIA (2018) Mental Wellness in the Workplace [online video] Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUW3UIJ8IEc [Accessed 28 March 2021].
As author explained mental health of the employee has a direct impact on employee performance. I would like to write down below references as well which related to the topic.
ReplyDeleteJob satisfaction has been found to have a major influence on job-related behaviours such as intentions to turnover, absenteeism, and self-reported job performance (Nagy, 2002, cited in Nadinloyi, et al., 2013).
Literature suggests that there are strong interrelationships among low levels of job satisfaction, the burnout syndrome and other organizational factors (Burisch, 2002; Kalliath and Morris, 2002; Shamian, et al., 2001; Stechmiller and Yarandi, 1993, cited in Nadinloyi, et al., 2013)
Thanks for your additional references Ruwan.
DeleteJust as physical fitness helps our bodies to stay strong, mental fitness helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good mental health. When we are mentally healthy, we enjoy our life and environment, and the people in it. We can be creative, learn, try new things, and take risks. We are better able to cope with difficult times in our personal and professional lives. We feel the sadness and anger that can come with the death of a loved one, a job loss or relationship problems and other difficult events, but in time, we are able to get on with and enjoy our lives once again. As explained it well.
ReplyDeleteMental health is important to every stages of life. Three important ways to improve your mental fitness are to get physical, eat right, and take control of stress. As workers, we must balance the mental health. with good mental health workers organization can do their works and performance in a smooth and better way.
ReplyDeleteMental health is defined by the World Health Organization as: “a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.
ReplyDeleteAdding more to the article there are few steps for promoting positive staff wellbeing
1. Opening up the conversation
2. Improve physical wellbeing
3. Take regular breaks
4. Give employees enough autonomy with their work so they feel trusted.
5. Train managers not to micromanage.