The Importance of Community Mental Health
Ever since the pandemic began, mental health has plummeted. People are stressed, worried, and unsure what to do next. And since stress tends to accumulate and spread, community mental health is in a state of crisis. But as a business leader, you can take several steps to make a difference, both for your office and the wider community.
Here are 3 ways to help support your community’s mental health:
Check in on Your Employees
You can’t make a difference outside of your company without first supporting your team. Chances are that the switch to remote work has left some of your employees overwhelmed. Additionally, the personal stressors of living through COVID-19 have caused most of us to self-isolate and retreat inward.
Make sure to reach out to your employees and check in on how they’re doing. Something as simple as a virtual happy hour or personal phone call can go a long way toward improving mental health.
Focus on Your Own Needs
Just like your employees, your own mental health is important for maintaining a positive, productive environment. This isn’t the time to put on a bold front; being authentic and vulnerable shows that we’re human, and that touch of humanness is what we need right now. By acknowledging stressors, as opposed to denying them, you’ll create a more honest and connected environment.
Practice Giving Back
Research shows that volunteering is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. Your employees will feel good giving back, and the people they help will benefit, too. Also, your team will feel better connected and supported, which will help them battle isolation. In short, giving back doesn’t just diminish bad feelings, but also increases good ones.
Final Thoughts on How to Support Community Mental Health
Stress and worry can be contagious, but so too can optimism and generosity. By acknowledging our current mental health issues, we can better tackle them going forward and improve our community as a whole.
If you want to make a difference in your community, Generus is here to help. We have a variety of projects focused on mental well-being, and we can’t wait to work on one with your team!