What a more important time to raise awareness than after a year of lockdowns and pandemic stress. Whether you’ve been working from home or socially distancing at work, the year of uncertainty has been tough for us all. Mental health should be brought to the forefront of business now more than ever, the important question is how should companies adapt to make sure their employees well-being is put first?

Tip #1 – Enjoy the outdoors

With a year of staring at people through screens, being able to see people face to face is a welcome change. Whether it’s doing your weekly catch up on a walk or spending your lunch hour on a picnic, meeting with your co-workers outdoors can support your business and their mental health at the same time.

Tip #2 – Create supportive work environment

A healthy work environment is a supportive one, it is so important to create a safe space for team members to discuss freely about how they are feeling. Creating a supportive network of co-workers is important to combat the stigma of discussing mental health and fosters a more supportive and positive work environment.

Tip #3 – Take breaks

Allow yourself and your employees to take breaks from work, spend some time in the outdoors, get moving or even just sit have a coffee and a chat. Getting a break from your screen or the pressures of work can make all the difference in an overwhelming work environment.

Tip #4 – Educate and spread awareness

Investing time to educate your workers about the importance of protecting your mental health and how to do so in the workplace is essential to foster a mentally healthy workplace. By celebrating awareness days and holding workshops, employees become more aware of how to maintain their mental health and how to seek help.

Tip #5 – Get support

If you run your own small business and have been struggling over the course of the pandemic, we here at IOEE run small business support groups. We aim to create a community of small business owners who can encourage and help one and other through this difficult time.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can spread mental health awareness in your business and educate your employees, our sister company SFEDI offers many courses centred on how to improve and maintain your mental health in a business environment.

To join our support groups or get more information about how we can support your business, contact us at: [email protected]