Never in our history has mental health been so widely discussed, and some good conversations are happening. Yet, there is still so much work to be done.
One area where there continues to be a disconnect is in the workplace. The pandemic has highlighted the need for employers to talk about mental health with their employees, but the stigma around mental health at work persists and will not go away overnight.
What’s more, employers can literally no longer afford to dismiss mental health issues in the workplace.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, before COVID-19, about 30 percent of Canada’s short- and long-term disability claims were attributed to mental health illnesses and cost employers 6 billion annually.
Not surprisingly, Statistics Canada says those struggling with mental health before COVID have gotten worse. For example, CAMH reports that more than 500,000 people in Canada can’t work in any given week due to mental health issues.
So what is the solution?
While it’s one thing to change the conversation around mental health in your organization, it’s quite another to put a plan in place that specifically addresses how to deal with mental health concerns across the board.
Ask yourself:
- Do you speak with your employees about their mental health consistently?
- Do you offer mental health days?
- Do you offer mental health seminars and training?
- Are you and your company genuinely open to your employee’s needs?
- What personal beliefs might you have that are barriers?
Transparency and understanding need to come from the managerial level, so employees feel comfortable asking for help when they need it.
If you answered no to any of the questions above, don’t worry, it’s not too late. We will work with you to figure out the best way to address your business’s mental and physical health concerns. Our team has more than thirty years of combined experience in mental health, coaching, occupational health and safety, nursing, and overall health and wellness.
Contact us today to start the conversation!
