Even as pandemic pressures ease somewhat, the stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems employees have been experiencing aren’t going away any time soon. Here are some steps you should be taking right now:
- Have open discussions while maintaining privacy. Don’t assume that mental health is destigmatized. Have and encourage open discussions about mental health challenges. At the same time, be sure to respect employee privacy.
- Model desirable behaviors and attitudes at the top. Embrace and promote good mental health practices such as maintaining a work-life balance, getting exercise, mindfulness, and eating right.
- Share information. Lack of information contributes to anxiety. Be transparent with information about the pandemic and how it is impacting your organization. Give employees opportunities to share their concerns and questions without fear of retribution. Let workers know about mental health benefits available to them and encourage them to seek help if they need it.
