How to Address Stigma in the Workplace

Mental health is a topic that is becoming more popular for good and bad reasons. More people are embracing the need to set aside time for mental health care. However, the stigma around this topic makes it hard for some people to address the rising issues, especially mental health issues.

We discuss ways employers can tackle stigma in the workplace to ensure their employees utilize the available resources to help them deal with mental health.

What is stigma? Stigma is the negative perception regarding mental health. Individuals facing mental health stigma may have a tough time coming forward to get help. Additionally, this factor minimizes the possibility of persons with various mental health problems getting the most appropriate support.

Addressing Stigma in The Workplace

A company’s success significantly relies on the ability of its employees and staff to function at their best. With mental health issues on the rise and the negative attitude toward their treatment equally rising simultaneously, it becomes inevitable for organizations to address the issue. Here’s what you should do.

Provide A Mental Health-Friendly Environment

A significant contributor to the increase of stigma at work is the unavailability of a safe space to express themselves without facing the consequences, especially a negative impact on their career. Create a culture that recognizes the importance of good mental health at work.

The company’s leadership should not only state their stand on mental health but also provide necessary tools that employees can use to educate themselves on the same. Sensitize your team on mental health issues and how they perpetrate stigma. Provide whatever educational material the group requires to understand how they are perpetrators of mental health stigma openly in the office.

Avail Mental Health Training

Considering that most people may not be aware of biases they’ve facilitated regarding this issue, it’s essential to have training every so often to remind them of what not to do. Such opportunities are helpful in demystifying myths about mental health, including nutritional facts. In the process, it provides a perfect forum to discuss the conditions, which is an effective way of destigmatizing mental health.

Be Compassionate and Empathetic

While employees and employers need to maintain a professional stance, the criticality of being compassionate and empathetic can’t be undermined. Providing this support is an effortless way to reduce work-related stress, increasing the employees’ commitment to the job.

When leaders are empathetic, they create trust, facilitate an environment for change, and, most importantly, upscale the employee’s productivity. Being compassionate is a great place to start if you’re pondering on how to address burnout in the workplace.

Provide Preferable working Designs

The setting of the Covid 19 pandemic is a primary indicator that people do not need to work from the office, at least not all the time. Employers around the globe have seen improvements in their productivity thanks to the incorporation of work-from-home opportunities.

Others find it beneficial to use a hybrid approach, where they alternate working days in the office and at home. Listen to your employees’ suggestions and integrate them into your work calendar. Allowing them to work in conditions conducive to them provides an excellent environment for good mental health, eliminating burnout.

Wrap Up

Demystifying mental health stigma and providing a healthy work environment are integral for any company’s growth. Therefore, every company must create a conducive work environment, sensitize their team on mental health stigma, and give alternative working designs preferred by their staff.

The conversation and changes only pick momentum if the organization’s leadership has a candid talk about it. This creates an entry point for healthy and timely recommendations regarding mental health and the related stigma.

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