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Harassment? Discrimination? Bullying? If any of these happen at work – or anywhere – there is bound to be damage and distress. But did you know that more ambiguous situations, including uncertainty and lack of control, can be dangerous for mental health, too? And it’s up to employers to take action to help prevent them. Here’s how to improve mental health in your business without blowing the budget.
According to research by the World Health Organization (WHO), risks to mental health at work can include:
To an entrepreneur, this might sound like any other Tuesday. But while you can’t necessarily right how your business is run overnight, you can take some simple steps to support your mental health and that of others. And it doesn’t have to cost you much – or anything at all.
Much like the famous line about first putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others, executives should prioritise their own mental health before they can take care of the needs of their staff.
“We are expecting our leaders to show up to embed a culture of well-being. But are we really expecting them to pour from empty cups?” asked the senior manager of Health, Wellness and Safety at the Auditor-General South Africa, Dr Rose-Darling Mokotong, at the Improve Mental Health in the Workplace Conference 2024.
In addition to filling their cups first, leaders need to foster a culture that encourages conversation about mental health. This could include telling staff that being open about their struggles will lead to support, not discrimination, and explaining that mental health issues will be treated in the same way as those of physical health.
Of course, every founder would want their teams to be healthy and equipped to work well, in theory, but prioritising mental health is more than just goodwill. Organisations should have a documented wellness strategy and targeted initiatives to support their employees.
To abide by the Employment Equity Act, employers must “meaningfully implement actions to protect mental health in the workplace”. The Act also expects employers to provide reasonable accommodations to those with lived experience of mental health conditions. Those could look like more flexible hours, longer time to complete tasks, or other support mechanisms.
In general, to proactively protect and promote mental health at work, the WHO recommends:
Manager training for mental health, which helps managers recognise and respond to their direct reports experiencing emotional distress, builds skills like open communication and active listening, and fosters better understanding of how job stressors affect mental health. The Alison app offers thousands of free courses with continuous professional development (CPD) accreditation, such as Managing Stress and Anxiety in the Workplace and Dealing with Workplace Conflict.
Training for workers in mental health literacy and awareness, to improve knowledge of mental health and reduce stigma against mental health conditions at work. Professional bodies in your industry should have relevant articles and resources, but for something more general, you could consider the free CPD certificate course, Practical Stress Management for Life & Work.
Interventions for individuals to build skills to manage stress and reduce mental health symptoms, including psychosocial interventions and opportunities for leisure-based physical activity. These could look like supporting regular breaks during the workday for stretches or walks, or starting a work Padel or soccer team. See more ideas here.
You can also visit these websites for free resources and support:
According to South African legislation, employers are expected to:
Not sure where to start? Consider consulting an HR expert or reviewing your current workplace wellness strategy. Genfin clients often use business funding to support HR development, staff retention programs, or team health benefits.
Whether it’s leadership training, flexible policies, or a simple check-in, every action counts. If you need fast, flexible funding to grow your business and support your people, apply now with Genfin.
