Recognising the Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness in the Workplace and Classroom
Even though Australia is supposed to be one of the happiest countries in the world, not everyone is feeling so great. Approximately 1 in 4 people in Australia will experience a mental health problem every year. Such conditions can affect anyone at any time, regardless of age, gender, or profession.
In this blog, we will focus on two environments where mental illnesses are prominent – the workplace and the education sector.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Stress, emotional exhaustion, feeling overworked, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment are some of the reasons why many people working in the education sector develop a mental health problem. It will start with a simple burnout and will eventually lead to a mental health condition if not addressed properly.
Teacher burnout is a widespread problem. Many teachers have left the profession due to it, had a breakdown because of it, or signed off work because of unmanageable stress.
Mental Health in the Classroom
Stress, emotional exhaustion, feeling overworked, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment are some of the reasons why many people working in the education sector develop a mental health problem. It will start with a simple burnout and will eventually lead to a mental health condition if not addressed properly.
Teacher burnout is a widespread problem. Many teachers have left the profession due to it, had a breakdown because of it, or signed off work because of unmanageable stress.
Tips for Improving Employees and Teachers Wellbeing in the Workplace/School
The wellbeing of employees should be a priority in all organisations. It will make them feel more valued, and significantly reduces the pressures they face in their jobs.
The following is a list of tips managers can use to help relieve the pressure on their staff to support their mental wellbeing.
Create an Open-Door Policy
All organisations should create an ‘open’ culture where staff feels confident in sharing their problems. An open-door policy is a way for your staff to ask for help and speak to managers about their concerns. This reduces the risk of burnout and mental illness among staff.
Encourage Work-Life Balance
Balanced employees have more motivation and less stress. Therefore, it is important to encourage staff to work hard but also have a life outside work. Organisations who practice work-life balance tend to enjoy higher retention rates, better productivity and fewer conflicts.
Get them Trained
Mental Health First Aid Training helps your employees recognise the signs of mental ill health when they first develop. In turn, this also helps someone struggling with mental health to get the assistance they need before the problem becomes serious. By providing mental health first aid training, you can reduce stigma and eliminate misconceptions.
Mental Health Awareness is spreading, and Mental Health First Aid in workplaces is a great place to start. So organise your MHFA Training today.