«A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not only the absence of conditions or diseases»
(WHO description of mental health)
In recent years we have given greater importance to mental health in all areas of our life, but one of the areas that was little considered, and that even the WHO has only begun to take into account a few years ago, is mental health in the work area. Today, some keys to a healthy workplace are discussed, including:
The co-responsibility that we must have among our work colleagues, recognizing the importance of each other's opinion and recognizing that there can always be areas for improvement.
The organization in our workplace since it will help us regulate and structure our day and therefore generate greater efficiency and have a performance that allows us to have more peace of mind.
Integration with our work team as, although we all share certain goals in the team, each one also has their obligations and their needs, so listening to it and having empathetic search for support between each other will make us feel as part of a team that collaborates, which matters to us and to whom we matter.
The ethics that we must present in our workplace since complying with the rules gives us a feeling of security and tranquility as we all recognize ourselves in the same “boat”.
We must not ignore that the other great pandemic we are experiencing is anxiety and depression
According to WHO figures, in 2017 more than 300 million people in the world suffered from depression and more than 260 million had anxiety disorders. These mental health illnesses are currently wreaking havoc and having never-before-seen significant impacts on people's personal and work live.
That is why it is important to have tools to deal with situations such as evaluations, important delivery dates, changes in work due to changes in workload or new job positions, among others, which are moments that can generate, detonate or aggravate these disorders.
Among the tools that are recommended are:
Use breaks efficiently: avoid working or thinking about work while on break as this will allow you to return with a fresh mind.
When you feel angry / frustration: take a moment to get out of the situation, trying to observe it from the outside will help make better decisions.
Stretch every hour and take a 2 minute break: this will help oxygenate the body and have more focus.
Establish reasonable standards: that allow us to be in constant growth and to be able to generate improvements in performance, nobody has to be perfect, it is about giving the best of oneself.
Enjoy free time, enjoy family or friends and exercise: this will help to have a clearer mind and to feel more complete with ourselves.
Our experience at work is one of the factors that determine our general well-being
Many of the reasons that lead to mental illness can be prevented. Mental health depends in the first instance on each one of us, on our lifestyle, our habits and relationships, however, it is a shared responsibility. That is why as a company it is important to provide tools, spaces, resources and information that promote well-being in employees from a participatory and flexible perspective. The message is clear, together we can prevent and reduce the risks of mental illness and thus promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Text by
Psic. Luz Maria Gómez
LYS Psicología