[ad_1]
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health! Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have had the opportunity to work remotely from the comfort of their homes. This shift has provided new insight into mental health awareness and prioritizing mental health needs in the workforce. Employers have found Mental health benefits days Giving employees a chance to reboot from a stressful week and come back energized and productive.
Rebecca Peterson, director House of mercyTo make mental health a priority, he says, you need the self-awareness to communicate what you need with your employer.
“It really takes each of us to know ourselves and have that understanding,” Peterson said. “That awareness to know whether or not things are going well for you or if there are signs that need more stress and more attention.”
Asking for accommodation
When entering your first job or a new job, employers often ask if you need accommodations. If those accommodations are related to mental health, how can one comfortably communicate that with the supervisor?
“First, I recommend finding out what kind of support you have from your employer,” says Peterson. “What do you have with benefits, employee assistance programs, or other options for more formal mental health treatment? Then, if you have a doctor or therapist you work with, make sure your supervisor knows what it’s like — the accommodation may require you to leave early for treatment or work from home on certain days.” Don’t be afraid to ask!”
Breaking the stigma
As you become more open and honest about your mental health, it’s important to remember that getting help doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with you. Taking steps to improve your mental health are positive and can benefit you greatly when you look at it in a positive light.
“Sadly, this stigma is very real and prevents people from seeking help,” Peterson said. “Mental health is a continuum, and certain symptoms can appear at any stage of life. It’s something we all go through and the more we talk about mental health, the more we can help break the stigma.
But Peterson says the work doesn’t stop at just talk — action is needed.
Mental health concerns are not always seen. In particular, it can be very difficult for a supervisor to notice this in an employee, but it can be even more difficult for that employee to speak up about what happened. Here’s how to start the conversation:
“Make it part of your regular meetings — check in with each other and ask how you’re doing,” says Peterson. “Some of those conversations may be more private, but those relationships are key to helping each other.”
Work-life balance
Sometimes it can be hard to remember that you have other things to do besides work, especially if you have a demanding job. However, being able to balance your work life and personal life is important to taking care of your mental health.
“In therapy, we talk a lot about resilience and developing your arsenal of different skills,” Peterson says. “It’s one of my favorite treasures. Burnout: The Secret to Breaking the Stress Cycle because of Doing something for your body that can break the cycle of stress says a lot about how releasing it is. It looks different for everyone, but connecting mind and body to find balance and release can be very helpful.
“What does balance look like to me?” Begin this conversation by asking yourself: It will look different for each of us and may change over time, but the key is to make a plan that you implement and share it with those around you to hold each other accountable.
[ad_2]
Source link
