mental health support

How to Support the Mental Well-Being of Others

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May 3, 2023

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4 Minutes

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Table of Contents

Dealing with mental health issues requires empathy and understanding. Many people will deal with such problems—possibly even you—so being an ally is important. Working together, we can eliminate the stigma around mental health so that people can feel free to speak openly about how they are feeling.

Being an ally at work means ensuring that those who are struggling with mental health issues feel valued and needed. From a business standpoint, it also improves employee engagement, productivity, and loyalty. Most importantly, when we feel supported, we are more eager to support others, creating a virtuous cycle.

Be a Mental Health Ally

Talk to your colleague one-on-one

  • Prepare yourself – Reflect on and correct your own bias around mental health; be open and approachable.
  • Find a good time – Choose a time when your colleague seems approachable and relaxed.
  • Start gently – Take a casual, non-confrontational approach, and validate their performance in case they feel unvalued.
  • Use the right approach – Have regular conversations to check-in.

Use supportive language

  • Be sensitive, avoid stigma, encourage, and cooperate.
supporting others mental well being

Educate yourself about mental health

  • Participate in education workshops and classes.

Encourage group engagement

  • Group self-care activities like fitness classes, meditation, and mindfulness programs foster a sense of community and can also encourage people who may be struggling to address their mental health in a non-stigmatized way.
  • Group activities reassure people who are struggling that they still have a community and people they can turn to.

Create mental health policies

  • To be good allies, employers must deploy a supportive mental health policy, offer flexible working conditions, and increase access to care.
  • At WorkMotion, we offer mental health support by way of Auntie, a platform for employees to seek out mental health support from licensed professionals.
 

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