Tips to Boost Wellbeing in the Workplace

This article is from the August 2024 issue.

When someone has a heart attack or stops breathing, a bystander often rushes over and performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), attempting to keep the person alive until trained medical personnel arrive. But what happens when someone has a mental health crisis? A mental health crisis is a situation in which an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors put them in danger of harming themselves or others. As with a physical crisis such as having a heart attack, a mental health crisis can happen to anyone, at any time, hindering their ability to make decisions and care for themself. Most bystanders have no idea what to do in these situations.

In many cases (depending on the circumstances), people become fearful. Would you know what to say or do to help someone who was showing signs of a mental health struggle? Would you know what the signs are that might indicate what is occurring? As an employer, manager, or even a coworker, you may observe that something is not quite right with a staff member, but you may not be sure how to address what you see.

One way to address mental health concerns in the workplace would be for employers to have onsite staff who have been trained to provide mental health first aide. In almost all instances, we would call 911 as a first step. However, employers would benefit from having someone on staff who is capable of managing a mental crisis until qualified help arrives. Mental health first aid courses teach individuals how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Training can be conducted at various sites across the country as well as at individual workplaces. This article asserts that employers can take steps to build a more resilient workforce and help their employees stay balanced when faced with strong emotions in difficult times. The article offers employers tips to assist in moving your workplace away from routine stress (i.e., job strain and long working hours, which may contribute to serious health problems), and towards resiliency. In the same way we might assist someone who experiences a physical emergency, we ought to also be prepared to assist someone who might be suffering with a mental health crisis. Employers can play a significant role in helping to ensure they provide a safe workplace by making sure they have trained staff to assist with both physical and mental health emergencies.

RESOURCES

U.S. Department of Labor

What can I do to help?: Tools and tips to support your workers’ mental health

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness

Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Crisis Services: Identifying a Crisis

National Council on Mental Wellbeing