Supporting Mental/Behavioral Wellbeing in the Workplace

Your brain demands deliberate, consistent care. Conditions like anxiety, depression and even dementia that tax mental wellbeing are real illnesses, as serious as chronic heart disease or an acute sprained ankle. “Mental health concerns are both common and long-lasting. About 18 percent of the U.S. adult population (44.7 million, or nearly 1 in 5) has a mental illness in any given year, according to 2016 data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,” says Safety and Health Magazine. Mental health is an important part of overall wellbeing. It can change seasonally as other bodily systems shift due to daylight exposure, physical activity and diet.

According to the World Health Organization:

• A negative working environment can lead to physical and behavioral health problems.
• Depression and anxiety have a significant economic impact; the estimated cost to the global economy is $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
• Harassment and bullying at work are commonly reported problems and can have a substantial adverse impact on mental health.

There are many actions that organizations can take to promote mental/behavioral wellbeing in the workplace. These include providing regular opportunities for creativity, communication and collaboration; offering a calming environment with color (for example, green is mood-enhancing and effective at reducing stress), nature and open space; and leadership training that addresses communication and conflict-resolution skills. Additionally, one unique and integral approach to promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace involves supporting the emotional intelligence of each team member.

EQ

Emotional intelligence, also called EQ (emotional intelligence quotient), is the awareness of one’s own emotions (and those of others) and the ability to manage them. EQ involves understanding and labeling emotions accurately, then using this information to guide one’s actions, navigate social situations and manage relationships. EQ is a flexible skill set developed with practice. While some people are inherently more emotionally intelligent than others, experts believe EQ can be honed. EQ is believed by experts to be more important to individual success than IQ.

EQ affects functionality, performance and in all areas of life including work. There are traits you want your employees (especially in leadership roles) to possess as they work to advance your company’s goals. EQ is linked to self-control, perseverance, performance under pressure and resilience. Managers with high EQ are aware of their own strengths and weakness, as well as others’. They are highly attuned to the emotions of others. They know how to react in situations, develop connections, make people feel better, and positively influence others.

Build Your EQ With the Retrain Your Brain Challenge

While scientists debate whether or not adult brains can produce new neurons, we do know we can strengthen the vitality of existing neurons and neural pathways – we can train our brain to function at its finest. Asset Health offers a unique, multi-week mental/behavioral wellbeing challenge that covers five major regions of the brain, with activities to get participants exercising their EQ. Many threats to mental wellbeing often stem from chronic stress. The Retrain Your Brain Challenge targets creative, practical solutions for mitigating stress to support overall mental wellbeing.

Want to learn more, or see a demo? Contact Robert Wilson at 248-822-7286 or RWilson@assethealth.com.

Explore these Motivate Health articles about emotional intelligence for in-depth solutions to building and supporting emotional intelligence:

1. What is Emotional Intelligence?
2. Characteristics of People With High EQ
3. Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
4. How to Build Your Emotional Intelligence