Resource Kit: "How Positive Mental Health Builds Stronger Companies"

Introduction:

Mental health is a vital aspect of overall well-being and significantly influences workplace wellness. With the evolving work environment and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more crucial than ever for employers to actively support employee wellness.

The Link Between Mental Health and Workplace Wellness:

• Employee Burnout and Productivity: The pandemic has exacerbated issues like burnout, absenteeism, and reduced productivity. A study revealed that 50% of employees had left jobs due to mental health reasons.[1]
• Impact of Anxiety and Depression: Anxiety disorders can lead to 8-24 missed workdays per employee annually, with "presenteeism" (reduced productivity) adding up to 12-26 partial disability days for anxiety and another 11-25 for depression.[2][3]
• Diverse Talent Retention: Younger employees, women, and individuals from marginalized groups often face the brunt, making mental health a key factor in diverse talent recruitment and retention.[4]
• Global Impact: Mental health issues are now the leading cause of disability, especially in lower-resource countries.[5]

Beyond Diagnosis:

• Flourishing vs. Functioning: The absence of a diagnosed mental disorder doesn't equate to flourishing. Employees value a supportive wellness environment, which in turn impacts their performance and satisfaction.[1]
• Openness and Support: Creating an open, supportive environment around mental health is crucial. Employees who feel supported report fewer symptoms, higher job satisfaction, and a positive perception of their employers.[1]

Employer's Role:

• Promoting Mental Wellness: Encouraging open conversations about mental health and providing tailored wellness opportunities are essential.
• Shamiri Health's Solution: We offer employers a comprehensive solution to support all employees, not just those with diagnosed mental health issues, through personalized wellness tools and therapies.

Conclusion:

By prioritizing mental health, employers can strengthen their companies, enhance resilience, and improve overall workplace productivity and satisfaction.

Sources:

1. Kelly Greenwood and Julia Anas, Harvard Business Review: It’s a New Era for Mental Health at Work.
2. Dan Chisholm et al., The Lancet Psychiatry: Scaling-up treatment of depression and anxiety.
3. Chisholm et al., “Scaling-up.”
4. Greenwood and Anas, “New Era.”
5. “Global Disability,” The Economist: Global Disability.