Stay SEAFiT: Preventing mental health issues at work

That said, in order to commit to a healthier lifestyle, it is important to focus on five dimensions: mental, physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual wellbeing. This time our focus is on measures to prevent mental health issues at work, by identifying psychosocial risk factors that may affects us.

Developing an effective action plan on mental health

According to a new WHO/ILO paper, when addressing mental health at work, the following key steps are important:

1. Prevent work-related mental health conditions through identifying psychosocial risk management.
2. Promote mental health at work through training and interventions
3. Support workers with mental health conditions through accommodations, programmes and initiatives
4. Create an enabling environment through leadership, investment, rights, integration, participation, evidence, and compliance.

10 psychosocial risks in any workplace: How to intervene

The following may affect our mental health at work, thus, any organization should be aware of and make interventions for improvements

#1 Lack of variety in work, under-skilled tasks

Focus on task rotation or job redesign

#2 Heavy workloads and high time pressures

Set achievable deadlines and targets

#3 Long work hours

Make flexible working arrangements

#4 Lack of job control

Participate in job design and decision making

#5 Poor physical working conditions & ergonomics

Equipment should meet health and safety legal requirements

#6 Poor organizational culture

Dealing with unfair treatment, focus on Diversity, Inclusion, Equality

#7 Social or physical isolation

Establish frameworks for preventing discrimination, offer peer support

#8 Unclear job role

Report structures and performance requirements

#9 No sight of career development

Offer equal opportunities and transparency in all processes

#10 Being away from home due to work

Offer flexible working arrangements and support