Mental health is a product of total health

With the recent high-profile suicides, more attention is being paid to mental health issues. (Photo: Shutterstock)

One of the leading causes of disability in the world is a calm and often overlooked condition. This is neither visible nor something that most people feel comfortable discussing. But that probably hurts the well-being of employees in your workplace.

According to research from the American Association of Anxiety and Depression (ADAA), depression is the most common disability in the world. Generally, mental health issues are largely ignored – nearly three out of four people living with a mental health disorder are not treated, according to ADAA research.

With recent large-scale suicides involving Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, more and more people are talking about the importance of getting treatment for mental health issues.

Related: 4 ways to promote employee mental health in the workplace

When we talk about health, we can not focus solely on the health of the heart, liver, or brain. We need to look after health and well-being and see the whole person and use tools and resources that benefit both the body and the mind.

Mental Health Month, in May, was a great opportunity for employers to engage employees and address their well-being at work. But it was only the beginning. This year's theme, Fitness # 4Mind4Body, can easily be applied at the workplace throughout the year. Here's how:

Nutrition

While everyone knows the effect of nutrition on the physical body, the connection between intestinal health and mental health is often overlooked. Your diet is directly related to the hippocampus – the area of ​​your brain that influences learning, memory and mental health.

In fact, research suggests that food helps treat common mental health problems. A study published in 2017 by BMC Medicine has shown that dietary improvements are effective in treating people with major depression.

Showing your staff how to improve their eating habits can directly improve the well-being of employees, both in terms of physical and mental health.

Point: Host live cooking demonstrations with a nutritionist during the team's dinner hour. Employees can participate by helping with basic meal preparation and asking questions.

Google, for example, offers free cooking classes to its employees in some US offices. These courses cover many cooking styles and are great for team building.

In addition, consider taking your employees to a local cooking class instead of the traditional Happy Hour. In this way, employees receive one-on-one time with cooking class instructors. Plus, it's a much more relaxed environment, and employees can bring their spouses.

Exercise

Exercise is another vital aspect of improving the well-being of employees. Not only does exercise help your staff manage their weight and improve their physical well-being, but it also provides many mental health benefits.

Physical exertion increases substances like dopamine, endorphins and BDNF to reduce stress, improve mood and regulate depression type behaviors. Regular exercise provides relief over time and can even prevent mental health problems.

In fact, a study published in 2017 in the American Journal of Psychiatry found a link between depression and exercise. Those who said they had not exercised at the beginning of the 11-year study were 44% more likely to develop depression, compared with those who exercised a minimum from one to two hours a week.

Point: Start exercise groups in your workplace tailored to specific fitness goals, such as weight loss and bodybuilding. In this way, employees can hold each other accountable and provide peer support.

These offers are becoming more and more popular with employees. In fact, according to our March 2018 survey, fitness challenges took over because physical wellness initiative employees were the most interested.

And more companies realize that. For example, Zappos not only offers an on-site fitness center, but also hosts fitness classes and competitions.

Sleep hygiene

Just as lack of sleep increases the likelihood of health risks like depression, a good night's sleep can have a positive impact on mental health.

A 2017 study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that participants who followed an online Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) program as a treatment, including keeping a sleep journal, saw major improvements . These included less insomnia, less paranoia, and fewer levels of anxiety and depression.

Point: Design a quiet space in your workplace where employees can retire to relax and rejuvenate. Keep the lights low and soundproof the room, if possible, so that they can escape the hectic day's work.

Procter & Gamble, for example, offers its employees relaxation classes. Some of their offices, such as Boston, also host meditation groups for their staff.

Our March survey found that employees want access to relaxation rooms. Encouraging rest and napping work has a positive impact on performance. The National Sleep Foundation's Sleep Health Index 2014 found that allowing employees to nap for 20 to 30 minutes during the day increases productivity.

Stress management

Some stress is normal, but when it becomes chronic and unmanaged, it can be debilitating. This affects not only the well-being of employees, but also employers in terms of lost productivity.

Mental Health America's Mind the Workplace 2017 report found that 33% of workers said they always, often or sometimes missed work because of stress. More than half (53%) of those who said "always or often" missed six or more days a month.

To put it simply, you can not afford to ignore stress and its effect on the well-being of employees.

Point: Employees rated stress management training as another wellness initiative that interests them the most, according to our March survey.

Create a stress management program that covers a new type of stressor each month. For example, focus on one month's financial stress, next month's relationships and another month's career obstacles. The key here is to provide workable stress management strategies that employees can use in their daily lives, both in and out of the workplace.

Look to the front

To really help employees, mental health awareness and education must be an initiative all year long. Start by creating awareness campaigns for each month and plan events around them. Then, distribute educational content, such as a monthly newsletter, that aligns with the theme.

Center each theme on a specific aspect of the season. For example, for the first month of winter, raise awareness about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Align these themes with relevant national campaigns, such as September's Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Use these campaigns to promote employee wellness initiatives and the benefits that can help employees deal with their mental health issues.

A mentally healthy staff is happier and more productive. May was only the starting point for building a healthier work force.

Kayla Lutz is a Regional Sales Manager at LifeWorks, a company that delivers holistic and complete wellness – physical, emotional, financial, professional and mental – with meaningful, targeted technology and services.