It’s
no secret that Mental Health has been the fastest growing health focus area
across the western world in recent years, and this is also represented in the
resources and attention allocated to mental health education and intervention
in the work setting – after all, we spend on average one third of our lives at
work these days!
However,
even with such a big profile and improving awareness of its importance, one of
the questions we often get at Pinnacle Health Group is “how can we practically
improve our mental health whilst at work?”
Here
are 5 practical solutions to consider:
MEDITATION
There
is so much available evidence for the positive effects of meditation, and to
point to just a few – studies from UCLA have shown that “meditators” have
better preserved brains than “non-meditators” as they age; another recent study
by John Hopkins proved that meditation matches anti-depressants for its ability
to reduce anxiety, depression and pain; other research, including one by
Mrazek, Franklin et al – concluded that just a two-week mindfulness course
improved cognitive performance in students, and led to better scores in their
exams.
Meditation
will only keep ingraining itself as a must-do in the workplace due to the facts
– and we guide people to take a novel approach to implementation, and embrace
initiatives at work such as:
·Attend Meditation classes for yourself
·Block off a meeting room or quiet area for 30 mins each week –
and meditate
·Download an online guided meditation sessions and listen with
headphones
·Embrace the quiet space on floors and zen out!
Make
sure you join us this month for our 30 minute meditation classes and learn the
skills to help improve your mental health today.
COUNSELLING OR
COACHING FROM A PSYCHOLOGIST – ON-SITE OR TELE-HEALTH CONSULTATIONS
The
stigma associated with seeing a Psychologist or counsellor is no longer a big
deal - and we are all recognising the benefits to our entire life of being
mindfully aware, and ensuring optimal mental wellbeing.
Explore
the options available to you as an employee, or in your local suburb - and you
will find suitable on-site, or tele-health consultations that are available
with a clinical and workplace-specialised psychologist.
These
sessions with a psychologists or counsellor are a proactive way to help you to
build resilience and mindful behaviour – and help identify their key personal
flags for stress, anxiety or burnout.
ONLINE
COMMUNITY/HUB/PLATFORM
Gone
are the days where simply being told to be “mentally well”, or reading
broadcasted information on mental health is best practice. Interactive online
platforms or community hubs (usually linked to staff intranet) are ways to
gamify and make being mentally well fun and engaging, and are easily accessible
to many employees.
Practical
functions such as questionnaires or surveys, games and challenges, and
continually updated content is a fantastic way to champion a mentally well
culture. It’s also a great forum to promote any events or services that your
organisation is planning.
WELLNESS &
FITNESS SERVICES
The
natural release of endorphins with any physical exercise is a fantastic way to
improve mental wellness, and lead to feelings of accomplishment, calm, clarity
and engagement. The feeling of euphoria is often described after exercise of
various intensity – and the ability to break up the working day with exercise
has huge benefits on productivity, and concentration alone.
Having
regular scheduled times for exercise, whether that is blocking your lunch hour
to go for a run or accessing more sanctuary-style services such as massage
& yoga it can be a real positive force to improve your mental wellness.
WORKPLACE
DESIGN
According
to a large study conducted by the World Green Building Council’s “Better Places
for People” campaign, simple steps like improving air quality, increasing
natural light and introducing greenery – those which typically have
environmental benefits such as using less energy – can also have a dramatic
impact on the bottom line by improving employee productivity and wellbeing, and
reducing absenteeism, staff turnover and medical costs.
Most
of our modern, progressive buildings have breakout areas, sit-to-stand desks,
great end-of-trip facilities and quiet areas - which can all have a positive
impact on your mental wellness as a tenant.
Embrace
the space, and explore and appreciate the features and design of your building
- it can really make you notice how great your work environment can be!
By Josh Lambert -
Pinnacle Health
Josh has over 10 years experience in the health industry, leading health and wellness change for both government or corporate organisations.
Josh works alongside key stakeholders at Australia’s largest companies and urban developments, to design and build on-site wellness centres, and improve the engagement of employees or tenants.
An MBA graduate, Josh is passionate about highlighting the return on investment, and vast productivity benefits achieved in a “well” workplace.
