Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace with Harassment Prevention
Do you know how to recognize signs of mental health issues in the workplace? One reason for mental health concerns in the office could be harassment or discrimination. Even subtle remarks or “teasing” could put significant stress on your employees. See how prevention training can help create a more supportive and inclusive environment where coworkers have better job satisfaction and fewer stressors stemming from workplace harassment.
What is Mental Health in the Workplace?
Mental health is defined as a person’s condition with regard to their emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. The four primary types of mental health conditions are mood disorders (such as depression or bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders (like as generalized anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder), psychiatric disorders (including post-traumatic stress disorder), and personality disorders (such as antisocial, avoidant, or borderline personality disorder).
Existing mental health conditions can be greatly impacted by harassment or discrimination faced in the workplace, and in some cases, workplace harassment even can cause mental health conditions like PSTD, anxiety, or depression. Workplace harassment is any unwanted, offensive behavior that makes a person feel intimidated or humiliated, as it relates to legally protected characteristics. Employers are responsible for creating and maintaining a workplace that is free of any forms of harassment or discrimination.
Understanding How Mental Health Impacts Employees
Research shows that victims of workplace harassment may face major effects on their mental and emotional well-being, with links to disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD, as well as a decrease in self-confidence or motivation. This poor emotional health can also take a toll on the victim’s physical health, including loss of appetite, weight fluctuations, headaches, emotional exhaustion, and trouble sleeping. Studies have also identified a connection between victims of workplace harassment and alcohol abuse or the risk of eating disorders.
Beyond just workplace harassment, poor stress management or a lack of work-life balance can also have an impact on employee mental health. Work-life balance is the practice of fulfilling both family and work responsibilities, using proper time management and keeping in mind that priorities can shift often. A lack of work-life balance can increase stress levels both at home and at work, ultimately leading to burnout, increased anxiety, or other mental health disorders.
Poor Mental Health Can Damage Work Environments
In addition to these major impacts on an individual, a poor work-life balance or effects from workplace harassment can also damage the company at large, potentially transforming it into a hostile work environment. Reports of sexual harassment can decrease morale and productivity in the company where it takes place, with studies identifying a correlation between victims and avoiding the workplace and neglecting to complete tasks at the office. Workplace harassment has also been linked to decreased job satisfaction among coworkers, as well as conflict leading to decreased performance and increased turnover.
It is important for employers to recognize the warning signs of poor mental health in their employees. The symptoms of depression that you may notice at work can include fatigue, social withdrawal, loss of interest in favorite hobbies, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, changes in appetite, or feelings of worthlessness. Symptoms of anxiety can be similar to depression, but with a few unique factors. Noticeable anxiety warning signs can include excessive worry, feeling on edge, a sense of impending doom, difficulty concentrating, feeling tired, or gastrointestinal issues.
Prevention Strategies for Harassment & Mental Health Issues
Employers can help prevent mental health issues in a myriad of ways. Mental health benefits such as insurance-covered professional counseling and generous paid sick leave can provide the opportunity for employees to rest and recharge. Improving the work environment with supportive individuals in leadership roles; a well-written code of conduct with a strong stance on anti-bullying, etc.; and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts can make a big impact on mental health as well.
When it comes to workplace harassment prevention, providing training for employees and supervisors can help them recognize and report incidents of harassment or discrimination. EasyLlama’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Training uses interactive knowledge checks and relatable real-life scenarios in Hollywood-produced videos to capture the attention of your employees and increase their awareness. In fact, when asked "How prepared do you feel to prevent, identify, and report sexual harassment in the workplace?" employee preparation grew from 56% pre-training to 83% post-training with EasyLlama.
Ready to improve employee mental health and prevent workplace harassment with our effective and award-winning training? Access your free course preview today!
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