October is Mental health month - 5 tips for leaders to promote positive mental health in their workplace

According to the Superfriend's "Thriving Workplace Survey 2017", a report on the current state of mental health in the Australian workplace, 2 out of every 5 workers reported that they had left a job because of a poor workplace mental health environment. 

October is Mental Health Month across Victoria,  and given that BRM Projects sees wellbeing as a central element in every one of our projects, today's blog will provide workplace leaders with some helpful tips on implementing and maintaining a mentally healthy workplace. 

Top 5 Tips For Leaders To Create A Mentally Healthy Workplace

1. Be a positive role model
Respect and humility helps leaders bring people together. If you show respect to your staff , this will encourage individuals to respect each other. Respect should be instilled in every workplace practice, from water cooler banter, to team tasks and meetings. Respect can also be shown through being present and available as much as possible  for your staff, no matter how busy you are.

2. Support your people through change
Change in any workplace is bound to happen and whether this change is through implementing new technology or an organisational re-structure, it can have serious impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of staff. If change is managed correctly, and leaders take the necessary steps to mitigate risks, negativity and anxiety, the change process will run more smoothly and ultimately have a positive affect on the entire organisation. Some aspects of change management that BRM Projects promotes through its work include staff involvement through focus groups, proper measurement of every step in the change process and the positive attitude of leaders.

3. Use an holistic approach to wellness in your workplace
As delightful as "Yoga Fridays" may sound, this single approach to wellness in the workplace may not work for everyone. Mental wellbeing isn't one practice, one program or one consultation session. It is a culture and a perspective that organisational leaders can adopt and implement through every aspect of their workplace. Wellbeing should even be engrained in your business plan. An Open, transparent, flexible and enjoyable workspace will end up being more valuable than a free gym membership or organic cooking class as it is something that employees and leaders can take home and integrate into their own lives. 

4. The importance of switching off
No matter what industry you are in, the need to draw a line between the workplace and the outside world is fundamental. The balance between work and life will often flow from the leadership, so it is necessary to draw clear boundaries for your staff when it comes to "switching off". For example, "No email" or "phone call" rules can be implemented for after hours and weekends.

5. Mental wellbeing starts with you
Lead by example and practice what you preach. Leaders cannot expect staff to adopt new behaviours without displaying those behaviours themselves. This doesn't mean you need to be a wellness expert, but it does mean you can become familiar with dialogue surrounding mental health in the workplace and gain a better understanding of self care and what it means to "work well". 

BRM Projects considers wellbeing to be a fundamental part of every project we deliver.
To find out more about creating workplaces that work well contact us now.