Supporting Employees with Mental Health: Best Practices
Implementing Reasonable Adjustments
After an employee discloses a mental health issue:
- Consider reasonable adjustments, such as flexible appointment times.
- Offering support can encourage further disclosure and discussion.
- Trust is crucial in building a supportive environment.
- Understand your limitations and respect the employee's preferences for support.
Signposting to Support Groups
Guiding employees to appropriate support groups:
- Knowledge of available support groups is beneficial.
- Always refer to established support resources; avoid diagnosing.
Promoting a Supportive Workplace Culture
Creating an open and supportive workplace:
- Establish activities and groups that promote mental well-being.
- Provide options for healthy food and drink choices.
- Encourage breaks away from desks to maintain well-being.
- Promote transparency where employees feel comfortable discussing mental health.
- Emphasize that it's acceptable to disclose mental health issues and talk about them.