Behavioral health issues are a major concern amongst many modern-day employees.
Behavioral health concerns one behavior that triggers various mental health conditions. The issues may range from depression to substance abuse, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, anger issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.
We tend to ignore the emotions and behavior of individuals and directly come to a conclusion by blaming their unproductivity. Whereas, we can always take measures to regulate and navigate employees’ mental and behavioral health and well-being, especially at work.
Negative behaviors can be altered in desirable ways to teach positive ones. Employees’ bad behaviors can unknowingly affect people around them.
In the case of the workplace, the relationship between co-workers is sensitive; one must be careful. While it has the potential to cause further damage to positive workplace culture and harmony.
It is better to pay attention from the very beginning.
Behavioral health is all-important for nine-to-fivers
According to data, mental health conditions are the third most common problem in the Philippines. Estimated around 6 million Filipinos are depressed or suffering from anxiety, or behavioral health problems. In the Western Pacific Region, the Philippines has the third highest rate of mental and behavioral health problems.
The major mental health challenges in the workplaces should concern the increasing rate of:
- Depression in the past decade among many adults
- Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts
- Anger management
- Lower productivity and performances
- Absenteeism
- Stress and anxiety
- Turnovers and lowers retention rates
- Opioid use and corresponding opioid overdose death
In your day-to-day life, people tend to know you by your social behavior. Similarly, your level of professionalism is known by your behaviour in your work-life.
The symptoms of behavioral health issues are less physical and more mental. Therefore, organizations must include mental health resources and professionals to reduce stigma concerning employee wellness and well-being.
Why do we need behavioral therapy at work?
Stimulating employees’ behavioral wellness at work can help enhance the culture of growth and create a safe workspace. Here is why we need behavioral health measures at work;
1. To bring a positive perspective
Behavioral therapy at work can change employees’ perspectives towards their life. Often, employees suffer from conditions that hamper their professional growth. But, positivity at work can undermine such negative effects and promote a healthy work culture.
If you encourage positive behavior or emotions at the workplace, you can build a constructive work culture. A work environment filled with good vibes contributes to greater workplace wellness.
An optimistic outlook can contribute to both company and personal level success. It facilitates employees’ decision-making and problem-solving capabilities, reduces stress, resilience and acquisition power, etc.
2. Elevate overall health and well-being
Taking good care of your overall health is essential. And, to keep your employees in good health must be the primary concern. Good health comes from healthy lifestyle choices.
Encouraging employees to adopt healthy lifestyle practices to amend their lives can truly transform their wellness and well-being at work. Human behavioral conditions are determined mainly by their living conditions.
Also, workplace therapies like cognitive behavioral, exposure, social learning therapy can be provided to help employees identify and change unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns.
3. Improve productivity and performance
A study found that behavioral health issues can influence productivity at work.
When going through depression, anger issues, sleep disorders, etc., you can’t be truly present and concentrate on what you are doing.
So, we can say that one’s behavioral health has a lot to do with productivity and performance. Anyone who is mentally stable and can perform their best at work.
However, even though one is going through some troubles, employers can take initiatives to enhance overall well-being through corporate wellness programs and offer solutions like;
- Outdoor activities
- Mindfulness meditation
- Biophilic workspace
- Healthy snack options, etc.
It is vital to keep the employees engaged and motivated.
4. To defeat social challenges at the workplace
A workplace can be carried away by social challenges that affect behavioral health and progress at the company. The major social problems that can negatively contribute to one’s behavioral health condition at the office include:
- Interpersonal conflict generally refers to disputes between two persons. Sometimes, it can hamper teamwork and bring in toxicity.
- Communication gaps can be dangerous. Effective communication among co-workers can help the organization grow and be of great benefit in the long run.
- Discrimination is prejudices or unfavorable treatments done to an employee based on their gender, sexuality, race, religion, and other disability. But, discrimination can be one major cause of employee mental and behavioral health issues.
- Bullying and harassment are offensive behavior that has the potential to turn the office environment toxic.
- Gossips and rumors at the workplace can harm individual sentiments and affect workplace mental health.
- Performance issues can be both qualitative and quantitative in nature. Behavioral health conditions can seriously impact one’s performance and productivity at work.
5. Tweak up intellectual wellness
Intellectual wellness drives your mind with creativity and flexibility towards new ideas and understandings. It is about seeking new things, being aware and active to keep other negative distractions at bay.
Stirring up your workforce’s intellectual wellness can help transform their personal and professional lives. And, individuals can be benefited in many ways if they practice intellectual wellness.
Today’s thriving work culture demands employees who are open to learning and embracing challenges with enthusiasm. Intellectually curious employees can adapt to new roles and possibilities that the present corporate world offers them.
Wrapping up
Well-being is always more about adopting a holistic approach towards life and entitling a person to become the best version of themselves; physical, social, emotional, financial, and professional.
Focusing on creating a generation of workforce free from mental and behavioral health conditions is crucial today. Taking such an approach to address behavioral health in the organization can promote a positive workforce.
Workplaces can adopt a holistic employee well-being approach to fix employees behavioral health problems alongside EAP. The employer can introduce a corporate wellness platform through a holistic approach that includes physical, spiritual, and mental wellness programs.
