The Mental Health Revolution

Throughout this month, we have been focusing on various aspects of Mental Health in the workplace and how organizations can improve their employees’ well-being by recognizing signs and symptoms of poor mental health, and proactively working toward a better workplace environment.  

This week, we are going to take a look at how those actions to help and protect your employees can also have immediate and long-lasting impacts on your organization’s bottom line.

Simply put, people are the most important asset to any business — full stop.

Society and industry alike have been expanding and evolving at an incredible pace since the industrial revolution, but despite incredible advancements in Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and automation, every business still needs humans at the helm.

The fear of robots replacing jobs is real — but outside of a few obvious and specific sectors, we are still a people-driven society. Even those few sectors that are rapidly adopting newer methods still rely on human programming, assembly, inspection, operation, and oversight.

All of this is to say: regardless of the pace at which business as a whole is advancing, we still rely on that human touch to keep things running smoothly and efficiently.

The question for all of us then is: are we investing in our human resources at a scale proportionate to their value?

The History of Workplace Evolution

The evolution of business and society throughout the years has been marked by periods of rapid innovation, development, and change.

The industrial revolution is often noted as being one of the most important periods in modern human history. To over-simplify it, this period saw extremely rapid and revolutionary change to the way work got done.

The introduction of machine manufacturing, new energy sources, mass production, and revolutionary inventions was boon for business. Industries rapidly grew largely due to more efficient processes and methods.

This period of industrialization eventually gave way to the second industrial revolution, more commonly known as the Technological Revolution.

This period was (and still is) characterized by scientific and technological advancements that continue to impact virtually every aspect of human life, from day-to-day tasks to the global economy — not to mention the dramatic shifts in the physical workplace.

At this point you might be thinking, “thanks for the history lesson, but why am I still reading this, and why should I care?”

It’s fairly simple, taking a quick step back is important in understanding both where we came from and where we are headed.

Both the industrial and technological revolutions are defined by certain characteristics, be it mass production and the introduction of factories, or the shift toward hybrid and remote workforces and digital transformation.

What organizations around the world have been realizing over the past few years is that history appears to be repeating itself.

Similar to how the previous revolutions were characterized by dramatic shifts in the workplace, many believe that we are in the midst of a more subtle, but similarly impactful global mental health revolution.

What does the mental health revolution mean for business?

Thanks in no small part to the technological revolution and subsequent advances in science, psychology, and medicine, the world has seen a tectonic shift in how we view and understand mental health.

But despite recent advancements in treatment, policy, and recognition of mental health disorders, there is still a stigma attached — especially in the workplace

People who speak plainly about needing treatment for or living with a mental health condition risk social isolation, discrimination at work, and in some cases violence or unjust imprisonment. The stigma surrounding these illnesses creates needless suffering and negatively impacts quality of life. —Source

Technology offers us almost limitless access to information, but that access often comes with a price. That information can be detrimental or our mental health and well-being.

Recent global events — including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote, hybrid, and distributed workforces — have sparked new conversations surrounding employee mental health and its impact on business.

The statistics are everywhere: 1 in 4 Americans has a mental health or substance use disorder, or by age 40 about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.

These figures highlight a problem endemic in the global population — not a small minority of higher-risk individuals.

Because of this, not only are individuals affected, but so is business and the global economy. In fact, it is estimated that “depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year.” 

The good news is that business leaders are starting to recognize the problem at hand and the impact — and are working to fix it.

The Link Between Mental Health and Employee Engagement

Similar to how the industrial revolution was characterized by innovation and finding new efficiencies in an effort to increase productivity, the mental health revolution is about working toward a solution for the mental health crisis to promote both well-being and employee engagement.

We talked earlier in this article about how people are any organization’s most valuable assets. Because of their value and importance, a disengaged workforce can quickly move the needle in the wrong direction — a problem that is becoming more and more obvious every day.

“The percentage of actively disengaged employees is up slightly in the U.S., from 14% in 2020 to 15% through June 2021. Actively disengaged employees report miserable work experiences and are generally poorly managed.” —Source

The link between mental health and employee engagement is more obvious than ever. So if we understand the issue, the question remains, are we doing enough for our people to ensure not only their health, but the health of our businesses and economy?

This question is more important than ever as the world adjusts to the new ways of doing business. While there are obvious benefits to it, the shift to more hybrid and distributed workplaces has many individuals feeling disconnected as well.

Nearly two-thirds of people working from home feel isolated or lonely at least sometimes and 17% do all the time. —Source

Mental health is an incredibly complex topic, and there is no simple solution. Fortunately, the mental health revolution gripping the planet has opened the doors to broader, more meaningful discussions.

Through those discussions, business leaders are coming to grips with the impact mental health can have on employee engagement and productivity — and because of that, the workplace is starting to benefit.

“A study by MIND shows that 60% of employees would feel more motivated and more likely to recommend their organisation as a good place to work if their employer took action to support mental wellbeing.” —Source

First and foremost, countless studies have shown that communication and collaboration are key to re-engaging the workforce.

How your business decides to accomplish this is entirely up to you — but tools like Stormboard offer an excellent springboard when looking to build employee engagement.

More importantly though, is the implementation of employee assistance programs and wellness action plans in the workplace.

There are countless resources, tips, tricks, and methods available for managers and business leaders looking to re-think employee engagement.

Change can be an incredibly difficult thing within an organization, whether you are a team of 2 or an enterprise of 20 thousand employees.

However you approach it, the most important question you can ask yourself and your organization is: which side of this revolution do we want to be on?

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