MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: Why a company program that promotes mental health and wellness is essential for success

John Graham 

As we adjust to life in the post-COVID era, focusing on mental health and wellness in the workplace can no longer be just a company perk. It’s become a necessity and mainstay for employees to perform at their best.

Every individual in a company — from the CEO to the intern — experiences a high level of stress in the workplace with the constant effort to move forward and do better. Even before the pandemic, employees were stressed-out with the ever-present pressure to perform well.

We’ve heard it countless times: When faced with stress, our bodies go into what is referred to as “fight or flight” mode. When this happens, our bodies prepare themselves for danger. Our nervous system releases certain hormones, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. While some stress is good for us, our bodies weren’t designed to handle a large amount of it on a daily basis.

Until recently, mental wellness has been somewhat of a taboo subject — a topic no one wanted to address. But in today’s increasingly stressed-out world, there’s a greater acceptance to embrace it, even in the workplace. For someone to reach their full potential at work, the connection among the body, mind and medicine must be explored, especially if your goal is to recruit, hire and retain high-performing team members.

Here’s why:

• Employees will be more engaged. Employees can better focus when their mental health is in check. Instead of ruminating over their problems, they can pay better attention to their work.

• Productivity and job performance soar. To perform well at work, physical and mental health is paramount. When employees don't feel well from either a physical or psychological standpoint, they may not be able to channel the necessary creativity to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.

• Communication improves. When an employee is in a good place mentally, their interpersonal skills improve. If they do not have a positive mental mindset, they may come across as passive-aggressive, short with others or have a negative attitude.

• Increased energy. If an employee’s mental health issues are being appropriately addressed, they will likely have more energy to go about their daily routines. Depression and anxiety deplete the body of what it needs to function properly on all levels.

• Better decision-making. Mental health plays a vital role in decision-making. If an employee feels well mentally, they are less likely to make poor decisions that impact their overall performance.

There are several steps leaders can take to infuse mental health and well-being into the workplace. First and foremost, leaders need to possess a non-anxious presence and provide an example for those who follow them. Just as with everything else, the leader sets the tone for mental health and wellness.

When mental health is a priority, everyone across the company benefits. It’s time for leaders to destigmatize it and provide the necessary resources to fully realize people’s creativity, energy and resilience.

John Graham is the president and CEO of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center.