Let's start by talking about what mental health is. Mental health refers to your emotional wellbeing, how you think about yourself, and engage with others. It can affect all aspects of your life, including work, relationships, family life, and school or university. Mental ill-health includes depression, anxiety disorders (including PTSD and OCD), bipolar disorder/manic depression, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder.

When it comes to mental health in the workplace, it will be essential to look for signs that a person may not be doing well. Some of the symptoms of a struggling employee include; reduced productivity, less output, decreased initiative, and communication. Some people may be high functioning and be struggling without showing any changes in their behaviors as well.

If organizations do not address mental health in the workplace, it can become a more significant issue. There are some signs to look for that an organization is struggling with mental health in the workplace. If there are changes in work performance (reduced effort, increased absenteeism), changes in interpersonal relationships (increased conflict), loss of valuable employees (good workers who leave), and barriers to health promotion efforts by management.

Some organizations do not do enough to support their employees' wellbeing because most companies just focus on physical wellbeing but forget about their employees' psychological wellbeing, which also needs attention. Just because someone looks physically well does not mean that they are doing well mentally.

Is it possible to create a healthy work environment? It is possible, and there are a few factors that will make a healthy work environment. Some of the factors include good management that is supportive but doesn't pander, supportive colleagues that are not on the same team as you, and an environment where people can feel safe expressing themselves.

How can employers help employees cope when they're going through a difficult time at home or in their personal life? Employers can help by providing resources to employees or encouraging them to take advantage of existing resources. Everyone has times when they need help, even people who seem like they have it all together (and especially those who don't). Managers can play a role in helping both their direct reports and the organization reach its full potential by taking steps to identify employees with personal challenges so that managers and coworkers alike are prepared to step in when help is needed.

Many employers provide an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers free counseling in confidence within set timeframes for work-related problems or personal concerns. EAP usually also includes a wide array of other services. If you think this would benefit you, HR departments will usually have more information about employee assistance programs.

Tips for creating or identifying a workplace that is good for your mental health:

Discuss work-life balance with your management team. If you are searching for a new job, be sure to do research beforehand or ask questions at the interview.
Listen to how your body is feeling before going to work and look for any patterns. Most working adults spend a large part of their time at work, and it's essential to be in a healthy workplace environment.
See if your company has an employee assistance plan. An EAP can be beneficial for people who do not have health insurance to go to the doctor or need someone to talk with about mental health.
Workplaces don't always supply the tools you need to succeed; this includes supporting employees' mental well-being. Even though workplaces may not include these elements, having a good family life outside of work is necessary, which means spending time away from the workplace.