Page 10 - Business Sense 11.1 (Virosha Pillay)- eBook

THERE IS NO HEALTH OR WEALTH WITHOUT

MENTAL HEALTH – TIME TO TRAIN OUR

LEADERS

Jacquie Bhana, High ■ For each person who takes their how to support employees’
Performance Coach, life, ten people have attempted mental health, and how you
HR Management to do so. South Africa has the can work towards creating a
Consultant, Mentor third highest suicide rate in compassionate and supportive
and Counsellor Africa workplace culture through
■ 30% of United Kingdom mental health support.
effrey Pfeffer workers have been diagnosed
in his book, with mental conditions at some SOME SUCCESS STORIES
JDying for point – so mental health is a REGARDING MENTAL
a paycheck, global phenomenon HEALTH DEVELOPMENT
wrote, “The ■ 80% of workers come to work Anglian Water Group, a
person you despite experiencing depression British company, won an award
report to at ■ Presenteeism costs South for their mental health strategy,
work may be Africa in the region of R200bn which was developed with three
more important to your health per annum and globally costs key elements:
than your family doctor.” trillions in lost productivity ■ Increasing awareness of mental
The topic of mental health at according to the World Health health and breaking the stigma communication and mental factors emerging for business
work is extremely close to my Organization ■ Providing a range of resources health conversations, they to attend to is the challenge
heart, and in addition to having ■ 75% of employees refuse to get and tools to support employees’ can help break the stigma of dealing with stigmatisation
done presentations at conferences, treatment mental health surrounding mental health – and getting employees to talk
written business articles in ■ 26% of employees don’t disclose ■ Completing mental health where every employee can bring openly about their struggles.
publications and having done a their condition because there is training their best selves to work. Let’s In addition to training, which
recent webinar, I am planning a no support or guidance look at some of the components should not be looked at in
series of training programmes for ■ 19% of employees fear reporting Heathrow Airport of a training programme: isolation, some of the following
managers and employees soon. their condition at work because ■ Experienced an 80% decline in ■ Identifying signs of mental is recommended:
This is in attempt to consciously of stigmatisation work-related stress absences health – recognising signs ■ Identify and address factors
deal with this growing scourge in 2018 and symptoms of common that are negatively affecting
by building capability and So, there is a need to reiterate ■ Created a one-day off-site conditions, including anxiety, mental health – using surveys,
confidence. that mental health and wellness education course for line depression, stress and others. focus groups, town halls, etc.
is a leadership issue. In addition Managers should learn how
Wellbeing is predicted to be to treating wellbeing as the managers “Your mind matters,” ■ Increase investment in mental
the next pandemic and will be fourth bottom line, businesses focusing on three topics: to look for changes in behaviour health
regarded as the fourth bottom have to train their managers to ▷ The importance of creating and increased absenteeism, ■ Build deeper connections across
and become comfortable on
line, so companies and business deal with this rising challenge. a positive psychological the employees – human beings
owners cannot afford to take this Not dealing with it will result environment how to proceed with providing are social beings, and
appropriate support through
topic lightly. Wellbeing needs in a major cost to the business ▷ How to catch someone before digitisation has had some
to become a strategic objective. because of lost productivity and they fall firstly acknowledging the negative influence with regard
Just to reiterate some staggering sick days. SADAG reported ▷ Helping them to return to problem and then referring to human interaction
facts about mental health, which that they fielded 600 calls a day work them on to the next level. ■ Educate, support and encourage
I presented on my recent webinar, before Covid, which increased ■ Effective communication employees and managers
see below. There are a number of to 2200 calls a day at the end There are a number of other – managers need to be able to ■ Create an enabling environment
statistics available which should of September 2021. It is also success stories related to communicate with employees – create a safe space,
jolt us into action – the figures important to note that employee how intentional training and because employees will only psychological safety and
below are mainly from the South assistance programmes, whilst development will help businesses open up to someone who is new thinking with better
African Depression and Anxiety they have been instituted in to effectively deal with this trustworthy and who will understanding of this real
Group (SADAG). many organisations, are not as challenge. respond appropriately to their problem
■ In South Africa, one in four widely utilised by employees, MANAGER’S ROLE IN concerns.
people suffer from depression and may need some attention. MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT ■ Providing support and If you need any help with this
– and it is predicted that 80% This article will delve into why accommodation – managers important matter, please feel free
of the workforce will experience it is important for managers Managers must receive need to be able to provide to call on me to assist. You can
depressive symptoms by 2030. to have the tools and know- training, e.g. simple guidance personalised support and view the recent webinar on
on how to talk (and listen) accommodation as reasonably www.youtube.com/
to those with mental health possible . watch?v=DuJ-sXKrg68
problems and training on the ■ Fostering a culture of I also recommend that you
management of wellbeing. Some wellbeing – it is important watch the video that is included
recommendations would be: to remember that the cost of not in the webinar on loneliness.
■ Owning responsible leadership attending to this problem can Together, we can help solve this
– this must be leader led be expensive, so creating a problem in our workplace. 
in the quest to build future fit culture of wellbeing will help
organisations with creating a positive work Contact Jacquie for more information,

■ Understanding the impact of environment, which would lead contact details below:
work to increased morale, productivity C: +27 (0)83 386 8343
E: Jacquie.bhana@mbhana.co.za
and overall organisational
■ Equipping managers with the success. W: www.jacquiebhana.co.za
tools and skills
■ Providing tailored support By providing mental health
skills for managers, your
Managers play a crucial role company can make sure it
in creating a supportive work delivers a consistent approach
environment for employees to mental health and wellbeing
experiencing mental health that is positively impacting the
issues. They are generally the bottom line.
employee’s first point of contact
and if they are fostering open One of the most important

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