According to the World Health Organization’s National Mental Health Survey, nearly 15% of Indian adults need active intervention for one or more mental health issues, and 1 in 20 Indians suffer from depression, with the age group of 15-49 years being most affected. Another study found that 42 percent of global employees have experienced a decline in mental health since the pandemic began.
With Work from Home gaining popularity, healthy and important boundaries faded away as individuals started struggling to manage their time efficiently—juggling the responsibilities at home while consistently trying to remain productive at work. At the same time, the adoption of new technologies that allow a person to connect from a simple smartphone or tablet has also increased pressure on employees to remain available always, once again making it difficult to hold healthy boundaries and create a work-life balance.
The lack of traditional boundaries that help separate work from the rest of our lives has led to reduced productivity. The term ‘burnout’ has become a colloquial word to explain the fatigue caused by long hours at work and consistent pressure to succeed. As one works without balance, the amount of energy and enthusiasm that can be given to work plummets.
Poor mental health causes a direct impact on productivity, communication and engagement in core business areas and leads to excessive stress and burnout. Even prior to the pandemic, it was estimated by the World Health Organization that depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion annually. Improving employee wellness has obvious upsides in areas such as productivity and loyalty.
To avoid a greater downturn in productivity at work, in the current scenario, it is imperative to employ strategies that help individuals feel safe and juggle effortlessly between work and the rest of their life.
Leadership:
Maintaining connectedness with staff via calls or meeting them in person instead of email communication, when possible, can be an excellent way of checking in to boost employee morale and staying in touch. Leaders should try and respect the work-life boundaries of their employees where possible.
Feedback:
Creating a safe space for the staff to offer suggestions or voicing their needs while maintaining anonymity helps them feel heard, which is likely to build trust and loyalty.
Learning and Development:
Encouraging learning and development is also a great way to promote a positive attitude in employees. The learning and development can be a mix of personal and professional development. This provides a pathway to working towards goals, and a framework for career development. This growth in turn can help build loyalty and productivity in teams.
Events:
Events specially conducted for employees also boost mental health. They provide a unique way of engaging with colleagues and seniors in a less stressful environment. Building a sense of community will be beneficial to give a sense of belongingness. This may build resilience and a more positive attitude among the employees.
Rewards:
People like their efforts being acknowledged. In fact, acknowledgement works like a reward in itself. This, in turn, will help boost motivation and encourage individuals to be productive while making them feel good about themselves
Employee benefits:
An insurance or perk that provides easy access to mental health via the company would be a great addition. Even Mental Health Days—an off one can take to look after their health—can go a long way.
(The author is Dr. Shevantika Nanda, COO and Co-founder at Mimblu, Online Therapy & Counselling App and the views expressed in this article are her own)
