Talking about mental health is complicated and uncomfortable for many people in general terms. If it were about the mental health of employees in a workplace, it is even more so. However, it shouldn’t be.
But why not? In many jobs, general medical care is provided and it is really necessary to reaffirm the importance of mental health. It’s just as important as physical health! So, implementing it in the workplace is a definite step in the right direction.
That’s why, from Lewer Canada, where we are experts in benefits products, we thought it would be pertinent to talk about mental illness in the workplace. How should it be treated and dealt with, and how can we create a friendly work environment for people with these conditions?
Keep reading to learn more about it. We are pleased to introduce you to one of the best approaches to the accommodation of mental illness in the workplace: the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Let’s get started!
Employee Assistance Program and mental health, how are they related?
“How to accommodate mental illness in the workplace?” is the question many people ask themselves. It is a bit complicated to think that in an age where information is available to everyone, this is still a taboo subject.
From the other perspective, many people fear being fired for mental illness or a related problem or condition. For people with emotional problems, stress levels can be very high.
However, dealing with these types of problems in the workplace is entirely possible with the implementation of programs such as Employee Assistance. But how does it work? Pay attention to the following list, we explain it to you and give you three strategies that you can apply when you have this program:
1. Providing psychological care and support
One of the most important characteristics of Employee Assistance Programs is the psychological care provided. It usually includes consultations and care for various cases: anxiety, depression, addictions, personal or family problems, among others.
There is no doubt that taking care of your mental health in the workplace will no longer be a problem if you opt for this program.
2. Encouraging improved work performance
The causes of mental illness in the workplace can be very diverse: working under a lot of pressure, immense workloads, among others. This is an ideal topic for another article.
Every cause has its consequences and there are no exceptions here. Not having good mental health can greatly affect people’s work performance.
For example: it has been proven that people with anxiety and depression have serious problems concentrating. It is not surprising if people with these conditions do not perform adequately.
However, proper treatment (such as that provided by the Employee Assistance Program) can be very helpful.
Improvements in employee performance are usually noticeable when workers are given the support discussed in the previous paragraph.
3. Strengthening employee-employer engagement
Improvements in job performance don’t usually come by themselves. Noticing a real sense of concern for employees on the part of the employer is a great motivator for them.
Not only can this fact help improve the relationship between employers and employees. It also strengthens the commitment to perform the corresponding tasks of each employee. In addition, it fosters a sense of belonging to the company.
Implement the Employee Assistance Program at your company now
Have you read this far? Excellent, now you know a little more about how to deal with mental illness in the workplace. Now you can understand the importance that these conditions deserve to have.
Are you interested in implementing the Employee Assistance Program in your company? Do you want to improve the work environment in your company and take care of your employees? Learn more about our benefit programs here! The following are some of our other services available to you:
- Life insurance.
- Health benefits coverage (general or extended).
- Dental care.
For more information and a more personalized attention, contact us from the option on the top bar or visit us at 3131 boul. Saint-Martin Ouest, bureau 410 Laval, Quebec.