It is a well-known fact that poor mental health impacts the performance and productivity of the workforce. The person’s engagement with his work is impacted due to poor mental health.

Communication with colleagues, co-workers, juniors and superiors is affected. It largely affects the daily functioning and the physical capability of the individual. Mental health issues do not discriminate. It is seen that mental health is an issue amongst all levels of employees, amongst all genders and age groups at the workplace. Negative work environments are linked with a greater risk of developing anxiety, depression and work-related stress. Poor mental health threatens physical health and can precipitate various illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc. It is thus important to address mental health at the workplace for a very basic reason. Positive mental health leads to a more agile workforce, and an agile and productive workforce helps the organization and the nation to grow.

So, what are the remedies for positive mental health at work? The primary step is to acknowledge the problem and start seeing the impact of negative mental health on the workforce and the organization. It is important to chalk out a clear plan at two levels: the organizational level and the individual level. The foremost design is to work around creating a positive work environment. It means to reshape the physical, social and economic characteristics of the workplace. It is imperative for organizations to also acknowledge the importance of work-life balance. Human resource policies that reflect the willingness to provide a positive work environment and mental health support are crucial. These need to be implemented in letter and spirit.

Creating awareness around mental health is next, and it will help to break barriers and to a greater degree, address the stigma around mental health. There have to be training and workforce development programs that not only focus on developing skills but also help develop positive relationships and team building amongst the team members. Measures to identify individuals facing difficulties need to be in place. The next and most important step is a mental health support system. Peer-led primary intervention to professional help- all need to be part of the support system that needs to be provided to any individual who needs it. In all of this, the foremost consideration is confidentiality around the whole process.

At the individual level, it has more to do with developing the skills of the individual experiencing mental health issues. Skills to manage stress, control anxiety, interpersonal skills, communication skills, etc. need to be imparted. Various tested techniques and tools can be employed, such as yoga, guided meditation, music or aromatherapy, laughter therapy, etc. to help the individual cope with negative mental health issues. It is also vital to educate and promote lifestyle changes to such individuals, such as diet, nutrition, exercise and most importantly good sleep. The ‘me-time’ concept is also much needed to strike a balance in our lives. One must pursue hobbies that will not only help divert the mind from problems but also make the person happy. The causes of negative mental health beyond the workplace also need to be addressed, and the individual must be motivated to resolve and mitigate them.

Mental health and our approach towards addressing mental health have changed over the years. We have come a long way from the era of taboo and stigma to the age of realization, acceptance and providing support. But there is still a lot to be done. As rightly said by Glenn Close, “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candour, more unashamed conversation”. Let us promote positive mental health at work and create a difference.