Page 10 - Business Sense-11.3 Rajesh Lutchman eBook

STRONG MINDS, STRONGER BUSINESSES:

BREAKING THE SILENCE ON MENTAL HEALTH

Jacquie Bhana, High at the Ross School of Business, managers to manage the mental ■ The cost of mental illness and illness. The journal reported
Performance Coach, University of Michigan, and health of their employees, given related consequences is that men who internalised this
HR Management a partner at The RBL Group, the number of other business projected to rise to $6 trillion stigma were less likely to get help
Consultant, Mentor a consulting firm focused on objectives they need to meet. globally by 2030 (up from for their psychological issues.
and Counsellor helping organisations and leaders My favourite headline, from a $2.5 trillion in 2010). Further research suggests that
programme run by Heathrow
men who experience depression
deliver value.
Loneliness affects 58 percent
■
M ental world is increasingly chaotic in the United Kingdom, is for of the U.S. population. Adults may self-medicate with alcohol
According to Ulrich, “The
managers to “Catch employees
and other substances. However,
health
are two to five times more
before they fall” – a module in
and put them at risk of other
continues with a host of unpredictable their training programme for likely to miss work, costing this can exacerbate their issues
R154 billion annually.
disruptions in technology (AI),
to be a very their managers. health conditions.
important political actions, social trends, The illustration (Figure 1) Ulrich Because mental health is an This article and others have all
topic to me, environmental sustainability, outlines ‘Mental Health Concerns’ important topic to me, I have just touched the tip of the iceberg
and I have and economic uncertainty. With that are vital for businesses to take done some work on this area of this problem for business,
written several this continuing chaos, we aren’t note of. – in webinars, in face-to-face which impacts their employee
articles, done webinars and have surprised that mental health has counselling and in telephonic wellbeing and their business
counselled a number of people, become a primary concern for Mental Health at Work counselling, and I am now doing profitability, and further stresses
both in the workplace and outside society, organisations, leadership Previous articles written by me niche training for managers and the importance of training our
of the workplace. The reality of and individuals along many in Business Sense publications HR managers in business. leaders in this topic.
the impact of mental health in dimensions. These mental health have also outlined information According to Ulrich, stress
the workplace is staggering, and concerns impact how people and contained in Ulrich’s article on affects employees at all levels. Conclusion and Implications
businesses must take action to organizations operate.” Ulrich the impact of mental health at Ninety-eight percent of leaders
avoid its major impact on their further suggests the need to make work. These articles emphasised and senior managers find their According to Ulrich, mental
profitability. I run a programme progress on this problem, and to the cost of depression and anxiety jobs stressful in some way; 38 health improvement requires
for managers, including HR develop definite actions to the business. According to percent of frontline employees say both a set of actions and a
managers, which I believe will to deal with this. These Ulrich: they are stressed at work at least focused state of mind. They
have to embark on actions for
make a huge difference in dealing suggestions apply to business ■ Poor well-being lowers half of the time; and 41 percent
with the challenge of mental managers and HR leaders as well productivity and increases feel emotionally drained from affected employees in their care,
health in the workplace. as individuals struggling with turnover, absenteeism, and their work. but perhaps even more so for
mental health concerns. managers and HR professionals
These are a few points from an medical costs, as well as He further explains that who are often the mental
article, by Dave Ulrich, a well- One of my concerns is the costing organisations 15-20 Gallup reports a ten year low in health caregivers or the “first
known Rensis Likert Professor ability or even the capacity of percent of total payroll. employee engagement, especially responders” for others. All
due to unmet expectations should invest in mental health by
and inadequate caring and engaging in actions that enable us
development. to overcome being overwhelmed.”
Self-defeating behavior
14 1 Reduced happiness/well-being
(eating disorders, substance abuse) The training programme
Men’s Mental Health
presented by me will assist
Another challenge that is
FIGURE 1: emerging is specifically that of both HR practitioners and
13 Hopelessness, sadness MENTAL HEALTH 2 Loneliness, social isolation, managers to improve their
CONCERNS withdrawal men’s mental health and asking ability to manage mental health
them to “man up” is not the in the workplace. 
answer. Research from around
Easily agitate, angry, edgy, 3 the world has found that males
or grumpy Depression, despair Contact Jacquie to book:
everywhere are reluctant to C: +27 (0)83 386 8343
talk about their mental health E: Jacquie.bhana@mbhana.co.za
and are more likely to die by W: www.jacquiebhana.co.za
Anxiety,
Lack of psychological safety 4 suicide than females due to
fear of the future
mental health issues. Situational
stressors have been identified as
Catastrophic thinking, imagin- playing a major role in suicide
ing the worst, focusing on what 5 Difficulty concentrating deaths among males, many of
is wrong or making decisions whom do not have a documented
history. In 2022, the American
Feeling out of Low motivation or Journal of Public Health Trusted
9 8 Excessive stress 7 Sleep disturbance 6
control, uncertainty energy levels Source, published a review of
studies dealing with the societal
Figure 1: Ulrich outlines ‘Mental Health Concerns’ stigma surrounding mental

LEADING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

n addition to Jacquie Bhana’s AIFT has emerged as a trailblazer learning focused on: technologies including the 5IR partnerships with government
work in coaching and in private higher education, and emerging 6IR space. and the Durban Chamber of
Imentorship, she is working championing innovative 1. Mental health training for Commerce and Industry, to
The success of AIFT and
closely with the CEO of Alpvest learning and future-focused managers and HR in other education brands within execute some of this future
business
Institute for Future Tech (AIFT) qualifications aligned to the the Alpvest portfolio has been thinking in education. 
Jay Ramnundlall, a well-known fourth and emerging fifth and 2. Artificial intelligence, cyber
entrepreneur and thought leader. sixth industrial revolutions, security, cloud computing driven by a commitment to Please contact Jacquie Bhana:
Through her association and and mental health will form an and digital business and high-quality, accessible learning C: +27 (0)83 386 8343
that integrates technology,
partnership with AIFT, mental important component of the work entrepreneurship, amongst entrepreneurship, and global E: Jacquie.bhana@mbhana.co.za
health is one of the programmes they do. others W: www.jacquiebhana.co.za
they will run – so watch this space. employability. This diversified
In alignment with their AIFT is also soon to launch performance underscores
AIFT is a private higher institutional vision and a range of three brand new Alpvest’s long-standing ability to
education and TVET institution mission, AIFT is preparing to higher education degrees, build sustainable, high-impact
leading the future of education. launch a suite of world-class diplomas and occupational ventures across sectors. AIFT
Under Ramnundlall’s leadership, new qualifications and micro certificates in emerging is also working towards forging

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