By Opeyemi Olutan
In most countries where daily stress from overwhelming workloads to traffic-filled commutes can easily drain employee motivation and mental strength, mental health issues are insufficiently discussed in the workplace. The narrative is however shifting, and one important question now remains, are you supporting all employees adequately?
One truth stands out now: Productivity isn’t just about skill or speed anymore; but how well your people are. Yes, you read that right; it’s about the humans behind the work.
Workplaces are filled with people across organisational strata and varying roles. From junior staff to executives, these employees have diverse experiences and respond to emotional strain differently.
A mental health policy with a focus on top executives might have been sufficient in the past, however, the evolution in human resource management has shown otherwise. Such policies suggest that some employees’ struggles matter more than others, which is not the case.
A Philosopher once said: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
How do you close this gap?
1. Listen more
Create a safe, judgment-free space where everyone can speak up, irrespective of their job grade or title, within the organisation. This engenders honesty and trust.
2. Leaders must be trained to recognize signs of burnout, anxiety, or disconnect, especially among teams or individuals who are usually not the focus in terms of business transactions or leadership engagement. These include support staff, office assistants, remote workers, and others. Mental health care training is not for HR executives only, but for all team leads.
3. According to an admonition of the Holy Bible, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain.” In simple terms, do not deny workers what they need while they work hard. Suffice to say that everyone within the organisation should have equal access to wellness tools like therapy, health insurance, gym access, or even just a listening ear and a good work environment.
4. Leadership must be about empathy. Real leaders are not afraid to show care. You need to build and encourage a culture of care among your people. This improves loyalty, teamwork, and general performance.
Mental health issues at work are not “feel-good” initiatives. It’s about respect, sustainability, and building workplaces where people want to show up and give their best. After all, the health of an organisation depends on the health of its people.
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