According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), nearly one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness. But it’s not just in our personal lives that we should be concerned about mental health. We spend the majority of our days, and our weeks, at the office. And unfortunately, work can get a bit stressful sometimes. This means that supporting mental health in the workplace is no longer a perk but a necessity.
Today is World Mental Health Day. The theme of 2022’s World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority‘. My returning guest today shines a light on the impact that poor mental health can have in the workplace.
Margarida Rafael is the Head of Psychological Sciences at Workzinga, a job search and hiring platform emphasizing company culture fit. Margarida works as a researcher and assessment content creator. She continues to see patients in her own private practice for therapy and psychological assessments.
Her clinical experience in the administration and development of a variety of psychological tests culminated in a full-time dedication to research in the industrial and organizational fields.
Questions Include:
- So today is World Mental Health Day. Why is it important to have a day to recognize and take stock of our mental wellbeing and the mental health of those around us?
- Is there a stigma around sharing one’s mental health?
- Should employees feel empowered to be open about any mental health problems/issues? What about the perception many have that admitting vulnerabilities will mean one doesn’t get the job/gets overlooked for that promotion?
- Workzinga helps with the culture fit in the recruitment process. How can employers demonstrate to candidates that they support the physical and mental well-being of their employees? Can you offer some practical tips?
- Candidate questions to ask employer around support? answer includes: “what do you do for self-care?”
- What does it mean for the employer brand if a company can demonstrate it really cares for the mental and physical wellness of employees?
- Is it the job of managers to lead by example and share their own vulnerabilities? Can this lead to more authentic relationships?
- How can leaders and employees spot colleagues suffering from stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues?