When it comes to improving mental health in the workplace, it’s important to create a healthy and positive environment that allows individuals to feel safe, supported, and celebrated.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that almost 60% of the world’s population is in work. As many of us spend a significant part of our lives at work, it’s important to ensure that our work environment is a positive one.

While fostering a healthy workplace environment is an employer’s responsibility, it also comes down to how you show up as an individual and engage with those around you.

Learn more about how you can take care of your mental health at work and create a positive workplace for others as an employer or employee.

Building healthy habits at work takes time and may not always feel easy, especially when establishing better boundaries.

Examples of ways you can begin to improve your mental health at work includes:

  • prioritizing your well-being, such as:
    • taking regular breaks during the work day
    • learning to say no to additional tasks if you don’t have the capacity
    • getting enough sleep
    • maintaining a healthy diet
  • building connections with colleagues
  • setting clear work-life boundaries, such as finishing on time where possible
  • reaching out for support when needed
  • making use of workplace mental health resources

It can also be helpful to create an end-of-day routine to help signal a clear boundary between your work and personal life. This can also help you switch off more easily and find ways to unwind from your day.

There are many ways we can all do our part to foster a positive workplace culture. It’s important to be mindful of how you show up every day and engage with those around you.

Here are some simple ways you can do this:

  • assume positive intent and avoid assumptions
  • maintain professionalism and avoid gossiping about colleagues
  • show appreciation toward your colleagues by recognizing their wins or hard work
  • practice open communication and speak honestly, clearly, and respectfully, particularly when giving feedback
  • be open to feedback to help improve your skillset
  • be reliable and respectful of others’ time, particularly when it comes to deadlines
  • engage in active listening and avoid interrupting others when they are speaking

Being intentional about how you show up to work can help contribute to a healthy workplace that creates a positive experience for both you and your colleagues.

How to avoid committing microaggressions at work

Microaggressions are often subtle, and so many people may be unaware of when they are committing one. Whether through words or actions, microaggressions can negatively affect the mental health of a marginalized group or individual.

Examining your biases and taking time to educate yourself about the types of microaggressions and how they can affect others can help.

It’s also important to be an empathetic listener. If someone shares a microaggression they have experienced, avoid dismissing them or getting defensive, and instead take some time to understand their perspective.

There are several ways employers can help foster a workplace that prioritizes mental health, including:

Creating a positive workplace culture

  • creating an environment where everyone feels able to contribute
  • offering flexible working hours and methods (such as remote working) where possible
  • ensuring job expectations are clear and workloads are manageable
  • ensuring hard work and wins are recognized and celebrated
  • creating a space where conversations around mental health are normalized

Establishing effective mental health policies

  • ensuring clear mental health policies are in place and easily accessible
  • ensuring discrimination or harassment is dealt with immediately

Offering training and support resources

  • offering cultural awareness and bias training to everyone
  • teaching employees how to recognize the signs of burnout and how to apply better boundaries
  • offering support and training to managers to identify workplace stress, while promoting healthy boundaries between managers and their downlines
  • creating accessible mental health resources, including information on finding external support
  • offering employee assistance programs (EAPs)

It may sometimes be difficult to manage your mental health at work, either due to your workload or other stressors. In these cases, consider speaking openly with your manager about any obstacles you’re experiencing at work and what support options may help.

If this isn’t an option, many companies offer EAPs, which are free services that can include confidential, short-term counseling, well-being initiatives, and crisis intervention.

Where we work can affect our physical and mental health. As many of us spend a significant part of our lives at work, it’s important to ensure that our work environment is a positive one.

There are many ways we can all do our part to foster a healthy workplace culture. It’s important to be mindful of how you show up every day and how you engage with those around you.