So what can Managers do?
MODEL HEALTHY BEHAVIOURS.
As a company don’t just say you support Mental Health.
Model it and lead by example.
COMMENCE A CULTURE CHANGE BY CHECKING IN
Make it intentional to make sure you are checking in with your employees and create a culture where it becomes normal for your team to do the same with each other.
With so many people working from home now during COVID'-19, this now more than ever is so important to implement.
Again, lead by example as a manager and don’t merely ask the generic ‘Are you OK’ ask some specific questions and ask your employees if they are needing additional support.
SHARE YOUR STORY
Through the Imperfectly Perfect Campaign, we have shown that as a leader, being honest about your mental health struggles opens the dialogue for employees to feel much more comfortable in talking with you about mental health challenges of their own.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Make sure you keep your team informed and try to always remove stress where possible to keep employee morale up.
INVEST IN EDUCATION / TRAINING OR SUPPORT
Now more than ever, you should prioritize proactive and preventive workplace mental health training for leaders, managers, and individual contributors.