In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, maintaining employee wellness and mental health is not just beneficial; it’s imperative. At Arc Integrated, we’ve gathered insights directly from our clients—leaders like you who strive to uplift their team’s performance and culture. In this blog post, we’ll delve into five actionable strategies that can immediately enhance wellness and mental health in your workplace.

1. Normalize Mental Health through Core Values

One effective strategy is to align mental health initiatives with your organization’s core values. For instance, if one of your core values is care, you can emphasize this by promoting wellness as a crucial aspect of caring for your employees. This approach not only supports your employees but also enhances their performance by creating a nurturing and supportive environment.

2. Reduce Counterproductive Demands

Excessive work hours can significantly deteriorate mental health and overall wellness. As leaders, it’s crucial to identify and eliminate unspoken demands that may contribute to such stress. By reassessing these expectations, you can foster a more balanced and productive work environment.

Research has consistently shown the stark impacts of overworking on mental health, with notable gender differences. A follow-up to the renowned Whitehall study conducted a prospective cohort study of 2,960 middle-aged full-time workers, including 2,248 men and 712 women. The findings were alarming: female workers logging more than 55 hours per week exhibited a 267% increase in depression symptoms and a 284% increase in anxiety symptoms, compared to those working standard hours (35–40 hours per week). This highlights the critical need for tailored strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of long working hours, particularly among women. For more detailed findings, refer to this study: Long Working Hours and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression: a 5-Year Follow-up of the Whitehall II Study

3. Promote Health, Not Just Manage Illness

Shift the focus from managing illness to promoting health. Simple initiatives like providing healthy food options, encouraging physical movement, or facilitating mindfulness and meditation can make a substantial difference. By promoting healthy habits, you contribute to a more vibrant, energetic, and healthier workplace.

Additionally, it’s encouraging to see that these efforts are being embraced by employees. According to a 2023 study by ResumeLab, 71% of employees have taken advantage of mental health support offered by their employer. This statistic highlights the importance and effectiveness of proactive health promotion in the workplace, demonstrating that when employers provide these resources, employees are likely to engage and benefit from them.

4. Create Challenge and Incentive Programs

Organizing health-related challenges and incentives, such as hydration challenges, meditation, or fitness events, can significantly boost engagement and community spirit within your team. These initiatives not only promote health but also foster a sense of camaraderie and collective effort.

5. Build a Supportive Community

Isolation can lead to significant mental health challenges. Creating opportunities for employees to connect, whether through interest-based groups, offsite events, or company retreats, can enhance the sense of belonging and support among team members.

Implementing these strategies can lead to a more supportive, engaged, and healthy workplace. By normalizing mental health discussions, reducing harmful demands, focusing on overall health, initiating wellness challenges, and fostering community, leaders can significantly improve their team’s mental health and wellness.

If you found this article helpful and want to learn more about the topic you can watch the video version of 5 Leadership Strategies to Enhance Workplace Wellness.

As always if you have any questions or concerns you can schedule a time to connect.

Be well,

Michael

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If you are reading this near it’s release, we are all in the midst of a global pandemic. Most places have shelter orders, social distancing or other regulations in place. It is an unusual time.

It is a time where our mental health is even more of a priority than ever. During times of uncertainty, chaos and distancing from each other, the importance of taking care of ourselves dramatically increases.

Here are three tips to ensure strong mental health during quarantine.

1.) Use Tools to Connect – Fortunately, we are in a world full of tools and resources that allow us to remain connected virtually. In addition to social media of course, consider utilizing tools like Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp & MarcoPolo to remain connected professionally and personally. Physical isolation can take its toll on our mental health but thankfully, we can still remain social.

BONUS – the link to Marco Polo is my direct link, please feel free to reach out with any questions.

2.) Keep a Routine – In times of uncertainty it helps us to “control the controllables.” There are always things we can control. The more we succumb to having our routine disrupted, the more our mental health is at risk . Some of our routines may be forced to shift given the nature of our work, childcare needs, travel changes and other necessary adjustments. The good news is we can choose to create new routines which not only impact our physical and mental health but also keep us productive. Consider asking these questions as you create a new routine:

How might I use this time to learn something I am passionate about but haven’t yet made time for?
How might this time be used to propel me even further toward my goals once this quarantine is over?
What can I include in my new routine that I haven’t yet had the opportunity to practice?

3.) Mind Your Perspective – In the midst of chaos the one thing we always have control of is our own perspective. This choice in perspective will either support our mental health or be a detriment to it. While the current situation globally, nationally and locally is creating real crisis, we still get to choose what perspective to hold. Holding a perspective of hope, opportunity and thoughtfulness also helps to create momentum toward decreased panic. We can all be a force to support each other’s mental health. Consider these questions to help shift your own perspective:

What is the positive lesson we can learn from this global condition?
How might we come to the other side of this situation even stronger as a community, a country or as human beings?
How might I use this situation to create greater compassion and resiliency for myself and others?

If you get stuck, there are resources. You may consider the options of a professional coach, therapist or mentor for instance.

For a quick guide on how to decide which helping professional is right for you as well as how you go about picking one, check out Part Two in the book CHANGES.

As usual, reach out with any questions.