Mental\nhealth is a topic that has not been openly discussed both in our personal and\nwork lives yet so many people are directly or indirectly affected by mental\nhealth struggles and\/or disorders. To adequately address the importance of\ndiscussing mental health in your workplace, we must understand what it is.\nMental health is defined as a state of well-being that gives an individual the\ncapacity to cope with the pressures and stressors of everyday life. Great Mental\nHealth enables a person to work productively, reach their full potential and\nbecome a \u2018contributing\u2019 member of society. Mental health, just like physical\nhealth and social well-being is an integral component of overall health that\nmust be promoted and nurtured. October is depression and mental health\nawareness month and as it comes to an end we will discuss how employers can promote\ngood mental health in the work place in this article. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For\nthe most part, mental health awareness is on the rise however we still live in\na world where those who deal with mental health challenges still face\ndiscrimination and stigmatisation. This may in turn prevent them from speaking\nup and seeking the help the need due to shame and fear. In fact, shame and fear\nof discrimination are among the top reasons why people do not tell their\nemployers and colleagues about their mental health state. It\u2019s so important to\nencourage open conversations about mental health in the workplace and to foster\na culture where people can be themselves. Understanding your employees \u2013 and their\nmental needs \u2013 enables your company to consistently adjust the road to achieving\nyour set mission. So, make it easier for\npeople to speak up about their own mental health concerns without fear of\njudgment and discrimination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nimportance and value of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) cannot be stressed\nenough \u2013 we will stress it again. EAP\u2019S come in handy in providing employees with\nmental health hurdles , space to maintain a good standard of work with the\nright support from the company. Employers can also promote overall mental\nhealth in the workplace by actively engaging with employees outside of the traditional\nwork space. Organise activities like team building, dinners to boost\nmorale and give employees a break from the monotony of an office setting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately,\nin some cases the workplace can be toxic and the cause of mental health\nstressors for a lot of people. It\u2019s important to create a workplace that is safe\nand positive and one that promotes the well-being of your employees. Happy\nemployees have a positive attitude and are more optimistic about the company goals.\nHealthy employees are motivated and perform better at their jobs especially if\nthey have a sense of fulfilment. No one wants to lose sleep on Sunday night\ndreading going to work on Monday morning. Create a company culture that values\nfun and group bonding by organising employee social gatherings which will\npromote friendship, collaboration and team spirit. A workplace where employees\nare at ease and have friendly interactions with each other are generally more\nconducive for mental health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every\nemployer is bound by the obligations stated in the Employment Act 2012 which\nalso states the rights of employees. These obligations include a duty to ensure\nthat no employees are treated unfairly on the basis of race, sex, pregnancy,\nmarital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age,\ndisability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth.\nEmployers are also obligated to make reasonable adjustments in the workplace\nwhere an employee\u2019s mental illness amounts to a disability and that there are\nadequate provisions for their welfare. Beyond this, employers can allow some\nflexibility in the work schedule to allow employees with existing mental\nillness adequate time to complete their work. Employers can also assess the\nrisks that stress in the workplace can cause in regards to mental health and\nfind solutions for these stressors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click\nthe link below for contact information on mental health help in Kenya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n