Monday - Mental Health in the Work Place

Living fast paced lives with so much on our plates, we never know when we will hit a breaking point and feel like we can no longer deal with the things we once did. Life is continuously changing around us and something can trigger us in the most unexpected moments, sending us to a place where we no longer feel in control and begin to shut down. Learning to recognize when we are in this mental space allows us to get help and recover faster.

Mental health is an issue in all workplaces. This being said the work place can contribute significantly to a person’s mental wellbeing.
Everyone benefits from a psychologically healthy workplace.

A workplace that aims for mental wellbeing leads to better employee engagement, morale, satisfaction, and productivity. It also reduces absenteeism, health costs, workplace injuries, and so much more.
 
Most of the time, mental health is forgotten. Your coworkers can be struggling and you may not even notice. It’s easy to pinpoint and work on a physical problem, but with mental health, many struggles are invisible and hard to discuss due to stigma. This week’s topic will dive into mental health and what you can do to ensure your colleagues have someone to turn to for help.
 
Tuesday – Mental Health Education

It’s very easy for mental struggles to go unnoticed in the workplace. Because of this, it is so important to be able to pick up when others may be struggling. Some common signs and symptoms are:

• Withdrawal
• Decreased Functionality
• Increased Sensitivity
• Lack of Concentration
• Apathy
• Disconnection
• Illogical Thinking
• Nervousness
• Unusual Behavior
• Sleep or Appetite Changes
• Mood Swings

Wednesday - Taking Action and Getting Help

When intervention happens early enough, symptoms are minimized, hospitalization is prevented, and prognosis is improved. Even if the person doesn’t show clear signs there are “red flag” warning signs and they can be disruptive and scary for that person.

Encourage the person to:

• Get evaluated by a mental health professional.
• Learn about the signs and symptoms of different mental illnesses.
• Seek counseling for stress management.
• Monitor their condition.

Always remember that support systems and family members play a key role in helping those struggling with a mental illness.

Thursday - Treatment and Self-Help

Treating a mental disorder is not the same as treating a cold. Treatment is not done in a ‘one size fits all’ approach. It takes into consideration how severe the symptoms are and what distresses are caused in daily living. Treatment is based on an individualized plan developed with a mental health professional. It can include counseling, medication, and other treatments.

Self-help and support groups are very important to a patients coping and recovery. Lots of times it will require the work of a lifestyle change and exercise. 
Working on your self-talk is important and may require journaling, posting sticky notes as reminders and giving gratitude daily for things in our lives.

Friday - Free Speech Friday

Have you ever had to step back and re-evaluate your tasks? Maybe you felt overwhelmed and in a place where you thought your world was spinning around you. Was there ever a point in your life where you felt fine but your body was giving you signs that it didn’t like the stress you were adding to it? Discuss these moments with your coworkers.