Resilient Archives - Minds Valley

Prioritising employee mental health post-Covid: The key to a resilient workforce

mindsvalley99 — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 06:22:15 +0000

As the world emerges from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial for employers and paymasters to recognise the paramount importance of maintaining good mental health among their employees. The pandemic left no aspect of our lives untouched, and the toll it took on mental well-being cannot be underestimated. Now that we find ourselves on the path to normalcy, businesses have a unique opportunity to cultivate a resilient and thriving workforce by prioritising the mental health of their employees.

Prioritising mental health is important. (Unsplash)

COVID-19 not only resulted in significant loss of life and disruptions to economies but also had profound effects on the mental health of individuals worldwide. Prolonged uncertainty, social isolation, fear, and anxiety have left lasting imprints on the minds of employees. Even as the world returns to normalcy, many continue to grapple with stress and psychological challenges stemming from the pandemic.

The pandemic acted as a catalyst, intensifying pre-existing mental health issues and triggering new ones in individuals. The shift to remote work, though necessary, brought its own set of challenges. The burden of caregiving responsibilities, homeschooling, and managing household chores added to the emotional toll. Frontline workers witnessed immense suffering and risked their lives daily, leading to trauma and emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, the stigma surrounding mental health remains a barrier to seeking help. Employees fear judgement and repercussions, leading them to suffer in silence.

Employers play a vital role in supporting their workforce’s well-being. By fostering a supportive work environment, promoting work-life balance, and providing access to mental health resources, employers can help alleviate the burden on employees. The pandemic has shown that investing in mental health is not only compassionate but also a strategic decision for organisations. Prioritising employee mental well-being leads to a more resilient, engaged, and productive workforce. By acknowledging the importance of mental health and providing the necessary support, employers can contribute positively to their employees’ recovery and overall success.

A mentally healthy workforce is more engaged, productive, and resilient. Conversely, neglecting employees’ mental well-being can lead to reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, higher turnover rates, and a decline in workplace morale. Therefore, it is necessary to undertake some of the following steps such as –

1. Fostering a supportive work culture and creating a work environment that values mental health is the first step toward cultivating a resilient workforce. Employers must encourage open dialogue about mental health and destigmatise seeking help or taking mental health days. Training managers to recognise signs of distress and providing resources for support can make a significant difference.

2. The pandemic has also shown that flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and flexible hours, can be both effective and beneficial for employees. Such arrangements empower employees to strike a healthier work-life balance and reduce the stress associated with rigid schedules. Encouraging a healthy work-life balance demonstrates a commitment to employees’ well-being. Set clear boundaries for working hours and promote leisure activities, social connections, and self-care to help employees recharge and stay mentally fit.

3. Offering mental health training and workshops can be another way through which employers and organisations can help employees better understand and manage their own mental well-being, as well as support their colleagues in times of need. Knowledge about mental health can help reduce stigma and create a more empathetic work environment.

4. Identifying and addressing workplace stressors that contribute to employee burnout and anxiety can be another significant step toward the mental well-being of the workforce. Regularly assess workloads, set realistic goals, and encourage open communication to prevent overwhelming employees with undue pressure. Through employee surveys and feedback mechanisms such as conducting regular employee surveys to gauge their satisfaction and mental well-being. Also by providing anonymous channels for employees to express concerns and feedback related to mental health support and initiatives. The feedback received must be acted upon proactively to continuously improve and adapt mental health programmes.

5. Collaborating with mental health experts and organisations to gain insights into best practises and evidence-based strategies for supporting employee mental health can be a productive step as partnering with experts can ensure that the initiatives implemented are effective and aligned with industry standards.

6. Allocation of adequate resources and budget to support mental health programmes and initiatives is necessary to ensure the effective implementation of best practises and evidence-based strategies. Employers should consider mental health as a long-term investment rather than a short-term cost, as the positive outcomes will contribute to the organisation’s success and sustainability.

While implementing all of the aforementioned steps it should be kept in mind that inclusive and diverse mental health support is necessary. Employers must recognise that mental health challenges can vary across employees due to diverse backgrounds and experiences. Inclusive and culturally sensitive mental health support must be offered to cater to the needs of all employees, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding.

As the world rebounds from the challenges of COVID-19 and embraces a semblance of normalcy, employers and paymasters must not overlook the profound impact the pandemic has had on their employees’ mental health. Prioritising mental well-being should be at the forefront of any organisation’s strategy to build a resilient and thriving workforce. By fostering a supportive work culture, implementing flexible arrangements, providing resources like promoting work-life balance, offering mental health training, and reducing workplace stressors, businesses can take a proactive approach to safeguarding the mental health of their most valuable asset – their employees. Only by recognising and addressing the importance of mental health post-COVID can employers pave the way for a brighter and more productive future for both individuals and the organisations they serve.

This article is authored by Ananya Raj Kakoti and Gunwant Singh, scholars of international relations, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

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Mental Health Education: A Key to Building Resilient Students

mindsvalley99 — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:11:02 +0000

Mental health is an essential aspect of our overall well-being. It refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and it affects how we think, feel, and behave. Mental health education is crucial in building resilient students who can cope with life’s challenges, setbacks, and stressors.

Students face an array of challenges that can impact their mental health, such as academic pressure, social isolation, family conflicts, financial stress, and personal struggles. These challenges can lead to various mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.

To address these challenges, mental health education should be integrated into school curricula. This approach would equip students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to maintain good mental health, recognize early signs of mental health problems, and seek help when needed.

Mental health education can promote positive mental health practices such as mindfulness, stress management, healthy lifestyle habits, and self-care. It would also raise awareness of mental health problems, reduce stigma, and encourage students to seek help without fear of judgment or discrimination.

Moreover, mental health education can build resilience in students. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity, challenges, and setbacks. It is a crucial skill that can help students overcome obstacles, maintain good mental health, and develop positive coping strategies.

By teaching resilience skills, mental health education can help students develop a growth mindset, emotional regulation, problem-solving skills, and social support networks. These skills can empower students to face life’s challenges with confidence, adaptability, and optimism.

Additionally, mental health education can enhance academic performance. Studies have shown that good mental health is linked to better academic performance, attendance, and engagement. When students are mentally healthy, they can focus better, learn more effectively, and achieve their academic goals.

In conclusion, mental health education is a key aspect of building resilient students. It can promote positive mental health practices, raise awareness of mental health problems, reduce stigma, and build resilience skills. By integrating mental health education into school curricula, we can equip students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to maintain good mental health and thrive in school and beyond.

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How to be more resilient

mindsvalley99 — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:14:38 +0000

To pass Justin McDaniel’s “monk class,” University of Pennsylvania students must ditch their phones — and voices — for 30 days.

The course, formally called Living Deliberately, requires its 14 students to “observe a code of silence, abstain from using all electronic communications and limit their spending to $50 a week” for one month, according to the university’s website. The class often has 300 people on its waitlist, McDaniel says.

The class’s stringent rules, modeled after actual monk practices, aren’t meant to socially isolate the students. Instead, McDaniel says he wants 20-somethings to get used to uncomfortable emotions.

“We exercise to build muscle and endurance, but we don’t practice emotions,” McDaniel, a humanities professor who practiced as a monk for nearly a year at age 21, tells CNBC Make It. “Without [that exercise], when we feel jealously or inadequacy or depression or even joy, we don’t know how to handle it.”

The monk class is supposed to be like “shock therapy,” a crash course to jolt students into mindfulness: Spending a month with fewer distractions helps students become more aware of their physical surroundings and emotions, he says.

But you don’t have to quit Instagram or never speak again to become more resilient. Here are three practices you can try at home, McDaniel says.

Try a digital cleanse

Some monks believe that making fewer decisions means being more available for religious epiphanies, McDaniel says. By that logic, it’s hard to be physically present for divine intervention if you’re addicted to watching Instagram Reels of corgis.

There are other psychological benefits to taking a hiatus from social media, too: A seven-day break from Twitter and TikTok reduced levels of depression and anxiety in a small randomized trial, U.K.-based University of Bath researchers found last year.

And there’s a correlation between less screen time and better sleep quality and reported well-being, according to a 2021 study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

Less time on your phone may also give you a better chance of meeting people in real life, as long as you can handle half a minute of initial awkwardness, McDaniel adds.

“I always tell my students that the difference in a lot of things in life is dealing with 30 seconds of discomfort,” he says. “What if you got in an elevator or onto the subway with someone else and didn’t immediately pull out your phone?”

Practice single-tasking

McDaniel’s class has been described by a former student as “learning the art of single-tasking,” he says.

In the class, McDaniel teaches that doing one thing at a time is the best way to stay present. “How often do we take walks without making a phone call, or eat a snack without watching TV, or exercise without listening to a podcast?” he says.

Allowing yourself to do one thing at a time helps you notice your surroundings and thoughts, McDaniel says.

It also helps you avoid the costs of multitasking. People who “media multitask,” or regularly divide attention between mediums like Netflix and their work email, have shorter attention spans and memories than people who consistently single-task, a 2019 Stanford University study discovered.

“You have to learn how to be bored,” McDaniel says. “Or sit with feelings of anger or sadness or loneliness without crowdsourcing your emotions to your friends.”

Do nothing

McDaniel and his children try to sit or walk for 30 minutes — without music, television or calling a friend — every day.

“For that half hour, you can’t read, you can’t learn, you can’t listen to music,” he says. “You just have to sit with your thoughts and breathe and look at your surroundings.”

In a sense, it’s a type of meditation or mindfulness — similar to “niksen,” a Dutch concept meaning “to do nothing” that’s often used to combat burnout and stress.

To McDaniel, better mental health doesn’t mean being happy all the time. Instead, his goal is to help students get less afraid of being sad and more confident in their ability to navigate complex emotions.

Often, students often start performing better in other classes after taking his course, he says.

“It’s not about changing your life or changing religion or finding the right yoga teacher,” says McDaniel. “The point is, if there is a point, listening to yourself rant or feeling your heartbeat and not judging it. You acknowledge a passing feeling of stress without answering why or how to solve it.”

“It’s like the Daoist conception of water,” he adds. “If you throw dirt in the water, and you just wait, the dirt settles at the bottom and the water remains clear.”

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Building Resilient Kids: Why Mental Health is Essential

mindsvalley99 — Thu, 04 May 2023 14:39:49 +0000

Mental health is one of the most important aspects of a child’s life. It is essential for their development and wellbeing, and it plays a significant role in building resilience. Building resilient kids is crucial, especially in today’s world, where children face various challenges, such as bullying, social media pressure, academic stress, and more.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity, stress, and trauma. It is a crucial life skill that helps children navigate the ups and downs of life, face challenges, and develop a positive outlook. Resilient kids are better prepared to handle difficult situations and make positive choices. They are also more likely to have good mental health and well-being throughout their lives.

Building resilience in kids starts with understanding and addressing their mental health needs. Mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and stress, can significantly impact a child’s ability to cope with adversity and develop resilience. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize mental health as a critical component of building resilience.

Here are some ways parents and caregivers can help build resilience in kids by prioritizing mental health:

1. Encourage open and honest communication: Encourage kids to talk about their feelings and emotions openly. Create a safe and supportive environment where they can express themselves without fear of judgment or criticism. Listen to them actively, validate their feelings, and offer support and guidance.

2. Teach problem-solving skills: Help kids develop problem-solving skills by teaching them how to identify problems, analyze them, and come up with solutions. This way, they can learn to tackle challenges and overcome obstacles.

3. Promote healthy habits: Encourage kids to develop healthy habits, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep. These habits can help them cope with stress and improve their mental health.

4. Teach coping skills: Teach kids coping skills, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and positive self-talk. These skills can help them manage stress and anxiety and build resilience.

5. Seek professional help: If your child is struggling with mental health issues, seek professional help. A mental health professional can help your child develop coping skills, manage their emotions, and build resilience.

In conclusion, building resilient kids requires prioritizing mental health. Parents and caregivers can help their children develop resilience by promoting open communication, teaching problem-solving skills, promoting healthy habits, teaching coping skills, and seeking professional help when needed. By prioritizing mental health, we can help kids develop the skills they need to navigate life’s challenges and build a positive outlook.

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