The key to creating a healthy work environment is leading by example. Management of the company should be supportive of developing programs and policies that support mental wellbeing. Especially managers who work directly with their subordinates should be able to handle workplace mental health challenges. 

Unfortunately, mental wellness is still a taboo and uncomfortable topic of conversation for a lot. Therefore, the majority of managers do not have enough knowledge and tools to address mental health issues in the workplace. Gladly, mental well-being is becoming a bigger priority for a lot of companies. Hence, there are more ways of training employees and raising awareness about mental health. One of the most efficient approaches to improving workplace mental wellness is mental health training for managers. 

Why mental health training is important for managers?

Mental health is still a stigma and sadly, a lot of employees do not feel comfortable speaking up about their mental health. Very often, managers and direct supervisors have the means to enquire about the mental wellbeing of their subordinates. Because they have a direct relationship and daily communication with employees, they have the most opportunities to address mental health issues. However, a lot of managers do not possess the skills to deal with mental wellbeing in the workplace. 

Furthermore, if the leadership is comfortable with talking about mental health issues, then employees will be more inclined to speak up. Setting the right example is the key to addressing this delicate issue in the right way. Teaching your managers how to support mental well-being in the workplace can have an important impact on your corporate environment. 

A common cause of work-related stress: conflict with managers

Many employees have noted that work-related stress and anxiety were caused by their conflict with managers and supervisors. Therefore, it is especially important to raise awareness about mental wellbeing and its impact on work among managers of every level. 

Why should you address mental health in the workplace?

Mental health issues affect businesses more than we could have imagined. Because of the stigma majority of people do not share their mental health issues hence, it is very challenging to fully understand how poor mental health can harm a company’s performance. 

The impact of poor mental health

Various studies have shown that poor mental health is linked with increased absenteeism, low productivity, and decreased engagement. Overall, all these aspects negatively affect a company’s performance. Mental health issues and work-related stress increase the number of errors as well as employee turnover. 

The reason you should address mental health is of course the wellbeing of your employees. However, since businesses are all about making a profit, as a manager you should consider the financial and performance-related advantages of improving workplace mental wellbeing. 

Workplace skills managers should have to support mental wellbeing

As we have established, it is crucial for the company that managers are aware of the importance of mental health. Remember, mental health awareness programs are not meant only for top managers. While they are important in creating right policies for improving workplace mental wellbeing, they can only solve part of the issue. Training mid-level managers and group supervisors should be your goal because they have one-on-one communication with the majority of employees and they can recognise and address issues before anybody else. 

Once you start looking for mental health training, think about the skills your managers should develop. Some of the most important skills include:

• Ability to identify if an employee is experiencing mental health problems
• Communication skills to have an open conversation about mental wellbeing
• Having different tools to address mental health issues through different actions
• Skill to communicate available resources for mental health support within the organisation.

4 types of mental health training

So, the question is: how can we help managers develop the skills mentioned above? The training can help managers understand mental health more deeply and learn how to support mental wellbeing. 

1. Raising Awareness about Mental Disorders

Firstly, it is important to share information about the most common mental disorders. According to WHO, one in every eight people lives with a mental disorder in the world. Therefore, anyone needs to have the necessary information about mental illnesses. Especially managers who are supposed to promote mental wellbeing at work. 

During the training, you can share information about the most common disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating, and dissocial disorders, and PTSD. The aim of this training is to help managers learn what exactly a mental disorder is and how it affects a person’s wellbeing. 

Do not overlook this training because of its simple outlook. It is one of the most crucial mental health training that you could organise for managers in your company. 

    2. Mental Health Red Flag Identification

This specific training can raise awareness about common signs employees show when they experience mental health difficulties. When managers have information about the “red flags” then they can address the issue in a timely manner. Furthermore, they can show their support in the right way and share with specific employees the tools that are available to them.

    3. How to have a conversation about mental health?

This training aims to develop soft skills among managers that will help them create trust and start an honest conversation about mental health. As a result of the training, managers should also know about practical methods they can implement to encourage conversation about mental wellbeing. Managers should understand how to have a solution-oriented conversation that delivers results in terms of improving the mental well-being of the employees. 

    4. Leadership as a way of creating a healthier work environment

Lastly, you want to teach your managers how to lead a company where mental wellbeing is a priority. More specifically this includes explaining to managers how their leadership style affects the mental health of the employees. Helping them understand their role and responsibility in promoting wellness is a crucial part of mental health training. Managers should be aware of their impact on mental wellbeing within the organisation. 

Access mental health support today

One of the best well-being initiatives you can offer your employees is mental health support. With SupportRoom, this is more accessible than ever. Get in touch with us and let us improve the well-being of your organisation.