From Stress to Success: How Mental Health Support in an Organization Drives Financial Growth
Up to 70% of South Africans who are active in the workforce report significant stress in their workplace. Across inustries, there's mounting evidence that prioritising mental well-being in workplace is key to unlocking improved productivity, lower absenteeism, and as a result, boosting overall profits.
For HR leaders around the globe, cultivating a mentally well-balanced and engaged workforce within their organisation is not just a goal - it's a necessary strategy!
Common Mental Health Challenges in South Africa
In South Africa, the workplace mental health crisis is compounded by a unique set of socio-economic factors. With high levels of unemployment and financial instability, the stressors impacting employees extend well beyond the office. South African companies, particularly in high-stress industries, face elevated risks of burnout, depression, anxiety and stress-related conditions among our workforce.
According to a recent report by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), more than 25% of South Africans will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives.
The Business Impact of Stress
Workplace stress, often stemming from workloads, high demands, tension and pressures, remains one of the most pressing challenges impacting employees across industries, leading to exhaustion, poor morale and high attrition levels.
The World Health Organisation claims that poor mental health costs the global economy an estimated $1 trillion in lost productivity annually!
The ROI of Investing in Mental Health Support in the Workplace: A Case for Employers
A study on Happiness and Productivity found that happiness in employees led to a 12% increase in productivity.
It is evident that investing in mental health support is no longer a tick-box excercise to show that your company cares - it's about cultivating a workforce that delivers on strategic company objectives. For HR leaders this means a more engaged and loyal workforce with fewer disruptions to productivity and reduced absenteeism. Employees who feel supported are not only less likely to burn out but will have an increased sense of motivation to achieve business goals impacting your organisations' bottomline.
According to Deloitte, companies that invest in mental health programs record an average ROI of 4:1 due to increased employee productivity and lower turnover.
Creating a Culture of Mental Wellness: Practical Tips
Creating a supportive, mentally healthy workplace involves fostering a holistic culture where well-being is a shared priority. Here are practical tips to cultivate this within your organisation:
- Encourage Open Communication: A workplace culture where employees feel safe discussing mental health openly can significantly reduce stigma. Creating this foundation of trust can also encourage early intervention for issues like stress or burnout. Our article on "Navigating Workplace Stress" offers further insight into practical communication strategies for stress management.
- Empower Managers to Lead by Example: HR leaders and managers can model healthy behaviours, such as encouraging breaks, fostering open communication, and supporting work-life balance. Additionally, regular check-ins or a buddy system can foster stronger support networks.
- Promote Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: Allow employees to manage their personla challenges more effectively by implementing flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid or mental health days.
- Recognise Diverse Mental Health Needs: The importance of recognising diverse mental health needs can help you, as an HR leader, address the topic in a manner that resonates across the different demographic of employees within your organisation.
- Support Resilience through Training and Development: Give employees practical skills to manage workplace challenges and stress through training. Courses like Emotional intelligence, Stress Management and Managing Anger give employees the tools to identify, understand and manage sources of stress so they can stay productive, balanced and engaged.
- Set Up Preventative Programs: Preventative measures, such as conflict resolution training and early intervention workshops, can help employees navigate workplace tensions constructively and curb issues before they esacalate.
Supporting a Well-being-First Workplace
Ultimately, as an HR leader, you have the ability to reshape your workplace culture. By integrating mental health into the core of your organisation, you enable your employees to show up as their best selves each day, creating an atmosphere where talent is nurtured, productivity soars, and growth follows naturally.
To gain insights into identifying signs of stress and imposter syndrome among employees, as well as effective management strategies, be sure to read our article on "Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace". By providing customised support and tackling these hidden stressors, HR leaders can take proactie steps to lessen their impact on employee well-being and overall compnay performance.
Let's entrench mental health as a vital part of a thriving workplace! Together, we can create environments where our people feel safe to speak out, to reach put, to bring their best authentic selves to work each day. Let's keep prioritising mental health - for a stronger, more resilient team and a more successful organisation.
Ready to prioritise mental health in your workplace? Contact us at info@ilearn.co.za to explore our range of courses designed to support your team’s well-being and productivity.