It’s sometimes easy to dismiss stress or fatigue in the workplace by saying things like, “Well, you know Mondays…” But mental health is an essential component of overall well-being, and it is crucial that it be prioritized in the workplace. A lot can take a toll on an employee, from the work environment and workload to work culture and work relationships – even the worry of drama waiting for them at home. Business managers today are responsible for the psychological and emotional well-being of employees and the conditions that contribute to their mental health. Is your business making this a priority?

Mental health issues impact more than an employee’s performance.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of mental health in the workplace and more than just employees are feeling its effects. It is estimated that mental health conditions cost businesses billions of dollars each year in lost productivity, absenteeism, and employee turnover. When employees are struggling with mental health issues, they are less productive, less engaged, and less likely to be able to contribute to the success of the organization.

In fact, the World Health Organization has highlighted burn-out from chronic workplace stress as an occupational phenomenon worthy of greater attention, with symptoms like:

• Feeling exhausted and depleted of energy;
• Disconnecting from the job, or expressing negative or cynical feelings about the job; and
• Contributing less and less to the mission.

Mental health directly affects the performance and productivity of employees. Issues can lead to decreased quality of work, increased errors, and missed deadlines. By prioritizing mental health in the workplace, employers can improve employee performance and productivity, leading to better business outcomes.

Supporting mental health is good for business.

It’s far easier to keep and support an employee than it is to find and onboard a new one. We’re talking about employee retention. Employees who feel supported and valued are more likely to stay with an organization, while those who feel unsupported or overwhelmed are more likely to leave. This can lead to high turnover rates, which are costly and disruptive for organizations. By prioritizing mental health in the workplace, employers can create a culture that fosters employee loyalty and retention.

How can business owners track how their team is feeling? We’ve built an app for that. Our proactive, positive, data-backed, and text-based mental health support tool is called Copilot. It helps leaders recognize challenges, trends, and issues affecting an organization’s team members. Isn’t it time you rise to the occasion and support your team? Say hello to request a demo of our Copilot mental health support tool.