Responsible for Mental Health & Development Days?

Let's imagine you're in the car.  The dashboard light's flashing , it's  a warning that the fuel tank's empty. In fact , you're practically running on fumes.

Would you:  

A: Go to a petrol station and put fuel in the car.

B: Wait until the car breaks down then call a recovery truck to come and tow you, or,  armed with a Jerry Can, walk miles to the nearest petrol station...  

Yes, exactly....  Pretty obvious right?

So why don't more organisations use the same approach to managing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace?

Why wait until things breakdown....

At some point everyone will be affected by a mental health disorder, if not personally, definitely by association. Family, friends, colleagues, children... Mental health conditions can affect anyone, at anytime for a multitude of reasons.

I help Human Resources, People Managers, and Learning and Development Professionals, nip workplace stress, anxiety, overwhelm and worry in the bud before it spirals out of control.

Starting with a workplace wellbeing audit, to help the business understand the areas  people need support with...

Why?

Because left unaddressed, mental health issues in the workplace will , at best, result in apathy and lacklustre performances. Staff turning up to work late , when they do arrive, engrossed in their mobile phones and what's going on at home, regular sick days, here and there.

At worst, you can expect long term absenteeism, with the worry of, when / if, they'll be back at work, should you back-fill their role in the meantime, or hope the already over-extended team can manage yet more work piled on top of them?

Why does work related stress even happen?

Because, people are human, and everyone has a breaking point.

Sadly most workplaces think they have mental health covered by hosting one off events and sticking up a helpline phone number on the back of the loo door, I'm here to tell you, that's not enough- It never was. In fact most employees don't use those numbers because they worry they'll somehow be penalised if they do.

As a result of not knowing how to manage their wellbeing at work, employees poor productivity and work related stress, costs the economy billions each year.

Revenue aside, for a moment., let us not forget the human element, people who don't feel that their wellbeing is taken seriously by their employer will leave and take their talents with them to an organisation that they feel , has their best mental health interests at heart.

I'm an Adult and Youth,  First Aid for Mental Health Instructor, Emotional Freedom Technique, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy practitioner and wellbeing columnist.

I show you how to create an environment where employees feel safe and at ease to talk and interact. opening the door to conversations and practical, easy to implement methods that start with a robust mental health in the workplace strategy that's more than one off webinars....

I've had the pleasure of working with corporate and private clients all over the world with outstanding results. Employers and employees who feel better equipped to understand, communicate, manage and maintain a good standard of mental health awareness and what to do if, or rather, when, that slips, because it will,

Why? Because we're human!

And that's OK.

What isn't OK is to stay there and hope it will all magically disappear, and you'll have a workforce brimming with 100% stable emotional health, because that rarely happens.

Now, is the time to be proactive, y'know, before things breakdown.

If you want to get in touch with me about training, mentoring, or anything else, complete the contact form and I'll be in touch.

Shannon Humphrey

Pathways for Positivity