In striving to make organizational strategies and goals a reality, leaders can overlook the importance of their employees’ mental health. Putting your managers in a stronger position to foster mental health in the workplace can be a strategic initiative that boosts productivity and the achievement of business outcomes.

In Headspace’s “Workforce State of Mind” report, one of our key findings is that while managers play a critical role in fostering healthy workplaces, they often need more support from the executive suite.

Managers have an outsized impact on employee mental health

UKG data reveals that almost 70% of individuals find their manager has more impact on their mental health than their therapist or their doctor. That means that great influence rests in the hands of your managers.

Our Workforce State of Mind report indicates that a vast majority of employees (97%) experienced negative impacts on their mental and emotional well-being due to their manager within the past year.

On a positive note, managers can also enhance employee mental health. Nearly 60% of employees report that their manager positively impacted them by being flexible with work to accommodate personal issues. 

When it’s time to call the shots, how can you show up effectively and mindfully? Shine in your role with our in-app collection, Thrive as a Leader, and tap into tools, expert tips, and more to help you lead with confidence and empathy.

Managers have potential to positively improve their direct reports’ workplace experience, but they’re often not well-prepared with the necessary tools and training to support their employees. While 48% of employees report turning to their managers for mental health support, only 24% of HR leaders say managers are required to take mental health-specific training. 

The World Economic Forum advised, “Leadership training and mental health-specific training can ensure managers are equipped to lead confidently and offer meaningful support when mental health challenges arise.” 

This highlights a major gap: while the pressure is on managers to maintain healthy workplaces and support mental health, they often lack the necessary resources from their organizations to do so effectively.

Four steps for empowering managers to support employee mental health

Here are four ways business leaders can help their front-line support of employee mental health:

1. Offer comprehensive leadership and mental health-specific training. Leadership training on topics like leading authentic 1:1s and managing burnout can help managers identify tools and strategies to help them build the skills to become strong leaders. Explore more on leadership training here.
2. Prepare managers to respond to global events. Global events can have significant impacts on mental health inside and outside of the workplace. Preparing managers with response toolkits and strategies can help them support their teams during difficult times. 
3. Make sure managers and HR leaders have the tools — and the time — to care for their own mental health. Your managers are likely busy and don't have the time to review all the resources available to them regularly. Help them by highlighting mental health resources during manager training or newsletters. Encourage managers to leverage mental health support offered by your organization. You’ll find that if your managers model healthy behaviors, team culture will improve.
4. Empower managers to make the best decisions for their teams. Managers know their teams best. Give them the independence to create environments and policies that drive healthier cultures and increased productivity. 

For more insight into the state of employee mental health, download the full “Workforce State of Mind” report today.

Headspace offers mental healthcare for every moment through guided meditations, coaching, therapy, psychiatry services, leadership training, and EAP services. Contact us to discover how Headspace can support your managers and employees.

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