8 Ways Workplace Counseling Helps Both Employees and Employers
Unfortunately, depression and anxiety are on the rise among workers in the U.K. Since 2013, moderate to extreme anxiety and depression has risen 30.5% among full-time employees and by 33.6% among part-time workers.
Anxiety and depression don’t just affect employees. Mental health issues in the workplace cost employers 91 million workdays and the economy £70 billion per year.
Thankfully, there is something employers can do to not only help their employees with their mental health struggles but to decrease lost productivity and income. Offering counseling services in the workplace has myriad benefits.
If you’re wondering what benefits mental health counseling can provide, keep reading. We’re sharing with you everything you need to know.
Common Triggers that Contribute to Mental Health Problems
There are many reasons why someone’s mental health begins to decline such as:
- Loss of a loved one
- Fearing for the safety of a loved one
- Divorce or the end of a relationship
- Drug or alcohol addictions
- Financial struggles
- Additional workplace responsibilities or workload
A person may also suffer from a mental illness such a bi-polar or depression even without additional triggering factors.
The Benefits of Offering Counseling Services in the Workplace
In the past, the most common method for dealing with mental health struggles was to dole out harsh disciplinary measures. However, when someone is struggling, punishing them or making them fear they may lose their job rarely helps.
It usually just causes the problem to worsen. By treating workers with kindness, concern, and respect, therapy sessions focus on restoring and strengthening their emotional health.
Addressing the Root Cause Rather than the Effect
Directly addressing the root cause of poor behavior helps not only improve the employee’s quality of life at work but also at home. And it reinforces the fact that you care about their wellbeing.
But you’ll also notice that you’ll save money on costs, directly and indirectly, related to:
- Burnout
- Turnover
- Absenteeism
- Accident-related disabilities
As your employee’s health improves, so will their performance and productivity levels.
Identifying and Managing Behavioural Problems
Any behavioral problems related to organizational changes can be addressed and managed.
Employees will learn life skills as they increase their self-awareness in regards to their behavioral tendencies and thinking patterns. This helps individuals more effective in life and at work. Many people find that talking is just the first step in a longer recovery process. Modern Mental Health Treatments now include options like medication management or specialized therapies for depression and anxiety. These medical interventions work alongside talk therapy to help the brain heal more effectively.
How to Implement Mental Health Counselling in Your Workplace
An important step when implementing mental health counseling in the workplace is to train managers in basic counseling skills. They should also learn how to recognize common mental health warning signs so they can address an issue before it becomes a full-blown problem.
Conducting growth and development workshops by a professional mental health counselor that touches on transactional analysis, marriage enrichment, and emotional intelligence help employees learn life skills that aren’t taught in school.
What to Look for in a Professional Mental Health Counselor
Developing an employee assistance program encourages employees to proactively take care of their mental health. Learn more about EAP benefits here.
Always have counseling sessions overseen by a professional and experienced counselor. Talking about issues is a sensitive and serious matter.
Confidentiality needs to be a priority.
The Counsellor Has Two Clients
The counselor also comes in with an understanding that they have two clients they are assisting. The employer who hired them and the employee they are helping.
The therapist can then use this information to understand how the employee fits within the organization and how it affects how they’re dealing with their problems.
Active Listening is an Important Trait
Work with a counselor who uses a flexible approach and listens patiently. Active and effective listening is one of the most important aspects to look for in a counselor.
It’s important the counselor exhibits warmth so employees feel comfortable and safe sharing their innermost feelings. But while being a great listener and giving off a warm and fuzzy feeling so employees trust the counselor are important traits, they must also be able to identify the problem and then offer appropriate and concrete advice.
Avoid Placing Time Constraints on Counselling Sessions
The employee working with the counselor should feel empowered to create a more positive outlook while assisting employees to make smart decisions that help them deal with their problem(s).
Also, employers should place no time constraints on the process. Everyone heals in their own time and at their own pace.
Sessions Can be In-Person or Over the Phone
Some employees may feel more comfortable speaking to a licensed counselor in-person. They may feel their information stays safe and it’s easier to speak to someone and begin to trust them when they can look them in the eye.
Other employees may feel more comfortable sharing their struggles over the phone. If you do opt for phone counseling sessions, you should offer employees a private conference room where they don’t have to worry about being overheard.
However, counselors can also offer to counsel via video, live chat and even through online groups.
Understanding the Warning Signs that Someone Needs Help
It’s often easy to spot the symptoms of a physical illness.
But mental health disorders also have their own visible symptoms.
Symptoms of Declining Mental Health
You just have to know what the signs are such as:
- Disappearing throughout the day
- Disorganization
- Excessive absenteeism or tardiness
- A decline in work performance
- An inability to focus
- Failing to complete routine tasks
- Increased irritability
An employee may also show signs by becoming more argumentative or beginning to complain about minor issues or offenses.
While these behaviors may also just signify that there’s a typical performance problem, if the symptoms appear over a short period of time, that’s when there’s a cause for concern.
Improve Human Resources in Your Business
Human resources (HR) isn’t there just to ensure everyone follows the letter of the law. HR is also there to ensure all employees feel safe in the work environment, including introducing counseling services into the workplace.
By learning more about common HR issues and how to improve HR within your own business, you can create a more productive and healthy workspace.
We can help you improve HR. Keep coming back to our site to learn more and use our productivity tools.
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