MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING

The company policies and programs outlines the provision to prevent and address mental health issues
among the employees. VTGI acknowledges that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Mental illness may be detrimental to a person as it impacts happiness, productivity, and collaboration.
Mental Health refers to a state of well-being in which the individual realizes one’s own abilities and
potentials, copes adequately with the normal stresses of life, displays resilience in the face of extreme
life events, work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make positive contribution to the community.
Learning Objectives:
 Define and explain mental health and mental illness
 To correct the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health conditions
 Educate the employees in what are the factors that contribute to mental health issues
 To know how to prevent mental health issues
 To gain idea what action you need to do to improve mental wellness in the workplace
 Define stress
 To know what are the sources of stress and its consequences
 How will you manage your stress
Reflective / Discussion Questions:
 Define the term “mental health” in your own words.
 Do you think there are any reasons managers / organizations should be concerned with
employee mental health?
 Why do you think many with mental illness do not seek professional help?
The Mental Health Policies and Programs is designed to:
 Raise awareness on mental health and its impact in the workplace and on workforce
 Correct the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health conditions
 Identify and address mental health issues in the workplace
 Identify and provide support for individuals at risk
 Facilitate access of individuals with mental health conditions to treatment and psychosocial
support
 Create a pleasant workplace in collaboration with managers, employees, and health experts
Why Mental Health Training is important?
Mental health issues are invisible illnesses. A person can appear to be healthy and happy while
concealing tremendous suffering. A broken leg in a cast is a visible sign of physical distress, but an
employee experiencing mental health issues may seem outwardly fine.
Mental health training helps employees to recognize the signs of mental distress in themselves and
others. This helps them not only handle larger crises, but also to intervene before the distress becomes
an emergency.

Stigma and Discrimination against People with Mental Illness

Stigma is when someone sees you in a negative way because of your mental illness. Discrimination is
when someone treats you in a negative way because of your mental illness. Social stigma and
discrimination can make mental health problems worse and stop a person from getting the help they
need.
More than half of people with mental illness don't receive help for their disorders. Often, people avoid
or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs
and livelihood.
Stigma often comes from lack of understanding. Inaccurate or misleading media representations of
mental illness contribute to both those factors.
Types of Stigma
 Public Stigma - involves the negative or discriminatory attitudes that others have about mental
illness
 Self-stigma - refers to the negative attitudes, including internalized shame that people with
mental illness have about their own condition.
 Institutional Stigma - is more systemic, involving policies of government and private
organizations that intentionally or unintentionally limit opportunities for people with mental
illness.
Public Self Institutional
Stereotypes and People with mental I am dangerous, Stereotypes are
Prejudices illness are dangerous, incompetent, to blame embodied in laws and
incompetent, to blame other institutions
for their disorder,
unpredictable
Discrimination Therefore, employers These thoughts lead to Intended and
may not hire them, lowered self-esteem unintended loss of
landlords may not rent and self-efficacy: "Why opportunity
to them, the health try? Someone like me
care system may offer is not worthy of good
a lower standard of health."
care

Harmful effects of stigma and discrimination

 Reduce hope
 Lower self-esteem
 Increased psychiatric symptoms
 Difficulties with social relationships
 More difficulties at work
 Bullying, physical violence or harassment
Ways to help reduce the stigma of mental illness
 Talk openly about mental health, such as sharing on social media.
 Educate yourself and others – respond to misperceptions or negative comments by sharing
facts and experiences.
  Be conscious of language – remind people that words matter
 Encourage equality between physical and mental illness – draw comparisons to how they would
treat someone with cancer or diabetes.
 Show compassion for those with mental illness.
 Be honest about treatment – normalize mental health treatment, just like other health care
treatment.
 Let the media know when they are using stigmatizing language presenting stories of mental
illness in a stigmatizing way.
Simple tips for talking to stop stigma
DO SAY DON’T SAY
 “Thanks for opening up to me.”  “It could be worse”
 “Is there anything I can do to help?”  “Just deal with it”
 “How can I help?”  “Everyone feels that way sometimes.”
 “Thanks for sharing.”  “We’ve all been there.”
 “I’m here for you when you need me.”  “Maybe try thinking happier thoughts.”
 “People do get better”
 “How are you feeling today?”

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE

The Importance of Mental Health awareness in the Work Place
Mental health and mental illnesses aren’t often talked about or addressed in the workplace, in part,
because they are more difficult to see or can simply be explained away. Additionally, employees are
often reluctant to discuss mental health and illnesses, especially when it could impact their
employment, and supervisors may feel underqualified or uncomfortable discussing sensitive subjects.
Therefore, mental health in the workplace is often overlooked and can be difficult to address.
Work-related risk factors that can harm mental health
1. Inadequate health and safety policies
Workplace health and safety policies aim to protect the well-being of employees, visitors, and
customers. They also protect employers.

For instance, a general policy may include consulting with employees on day-to-day health
issues or demonstrating a commitment to safe working conditions. Are employees working with
hazardous materials or poorly maintained equipment? Is the workplace over-crowded, poorly lit
or ventilated, or unsanitary? Are workplace accidents common? Have employee safety
complaints or concerns gone unanswered?

Workplaces with poor health and safety policies may decrease employee mental health, lose
staff, risk prosecution, and reduce profitability.

2. Poor communication and management practices

 Kind and engaging communication and management practices are the mark of a good manager-
employee relationship.

Poor communication and practices, on the other hand, create strain on the relationship, create
poor mental health, and increase workplace stress.
3. Low levels of support for employees
Managers who don’t help remove obstacles or share resources with employees can contribute
to employees feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated. For instance, rather than expecting
employees to figure out tasks they’re unclear about, managers should demonstrate how to
complete those tasks and stay available for questions.
Poor mental health and stress can negatively affect employee:
 Job performance and productivity.
 Engagement with one’s work.
 Communication with coworkers.
 Physical capability and daily functioning.
Effects of Good Workplace Mental Health:
INCREASE DECREASE
 Productivity  Turnover rates
 Worker Engagement  Absenteeism/ Disability
 Injuries
 Grievances

Mental Health Issues

Mental illness is a health issue which can significantly influence how people feel, think and behave.
Mental health issues in the workplace are any conditions that affect employee’s state of mind. These
conditions may include depression, stress and severe anxiety which may result in burnout and nervous
breakdown. Substance abuse may also perpetuate mental health issues.
Mental health problems manifest in different ways. Some employees may suffer with no physical side
effects, while others may experience physical symptoms, e.g. increased blood pressure, lethargy,
changes in eating habits to name a few.
Factors that contribute to Mental Health Issues
Factors that can contribute to mental health issues can be grouped into two, namely Personal and
Organizational. Personal factors that are outside the company’s control include the individual’s
predisposition to mental health issues, family conflicts, relationship issues, past stressful events, and
general health. Organizational factors are work-related factors that contribute to mental health
problems, to wit:
 Unmet job expectations
 Work overload
 Organizational politics
 Organizational changes
 Excessive pressure
  Lack of support
 Unpleasant relationship with colleagues or managers
 Hostile workplace conditions
 Physical work environment
Generally, working is good for our mental health but, many factors can contribute to mental health
problems or make existing problems worse. When work related stress is high and ongoing it can be a risk
factor for mental illness. It is important to prevent issues where possible and mitigate risk where it is not
possible.
Prevention of Mental ill-health
Prevention interventions work by focusing on reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors.
Activities may work at three main levels and seek to:
 Primary prevention – prevent the onset or development of problem or illness: types = the
whole workplace and groups at higher risk
 Secondary prevention – lower the severity and duration of an illness through early detection
and referral to appropriate treatment
 Tertiary prevention – reduce the impact of an illness through rehabilitation back into the
workplace.
Platform for action
1. Healthy workplace policy – e.g. stigma reduction, social inclusion, OH&S policies, HR policies.
2. Creating supportive environments – e.g. anti-bullying programs, strengthening families, healthy
work initiatives.
3. Strengthening workplace and communities to take action – peer support, worker-led
initiatives.
4. Developing personal skills – e.g. life skills training, mental illness literacy, parenting skills,
financial management.
5. Reorienting OH&S services to a promotion and prevention approach. – e.g. inclusion of mental
health and wellbeing.
What Employers Can Do
Employers can be agents of change in the workplace. Here are some tips:
 Be aware of mental health issues
 Modify workplace risk factors for stress
 Develop an organizational climate that promotes wellbeing and creativity
 Facilitate access to healthcare for employees who may need it
 Be understanding and flexible to the needs of employees, understanding their personal
situations
 Combat stigma and encourage open discussion in the workplace on mental health
What Employees Can Do
Employees can avoid burnout and improve their mental wellness in the workplace. Here are some tips:
 Practice resilience and self-care
  Building positive physical health experiences has been proven to result in increased self-efficacy,
the ability to self-generate positive emotions, build resilience and make an individual feel more
socially connected.
 Seek help when you need it
 Maintain and enhance your social networks
 Engage in regular exercise and leisure activities
 Talk to your employer about your mental health needs
 Know your rights
What Coworkers Can Do
Here are some tips on what you can do to help someone you work with who may be struggling:
 Make it clear that you want to help, listen without judgment, and offer support.
 Encourage them to seek professional help when they are ready.
 If you think the person is in immediate danger, do not leave him or her alone. Seek professional
help from the emergency services, a crisis line, or a health-care professional.
 Stay in touch to check how the person doing
STRESS MANAGEMENT
What is Stress?
Stress is defined as the pressure experienced by a person in response to life demands. These demands
are referred to as stressors and include a range of life events, physical factors, environmental conditions
and personal thoughts.
Stress is a natural and necessary human response that helps motivate us to achieve our goals as well as
enable us to act quickly in situations of danger. However, long term, high levels of stress are detrimental
to our mental and physical health. At work it decreases focus, productivity and effectiveness.
Relationships can become strained, with increased irritability and conflict. Furthermore, stress affects
our sleep, appetite and energy levels leading to more frequent illness, heightened anxiety, depression
and even burnout.
We can be stressed by so many different things, some of which we’re not even aware of.
There are obvious ones like work pressure, major life events, difficult relationships, finances, caring
responsibilities and long-term health condition. Add to this other less obvious stressors like injury,
illness, pregnancy and menopause. Then we have food sensitivities and poor diet, environmental toxins,
lack of or even too much exercise, poor sleep, smoking and alcohol consumption. To cap this, life seems
to continue increasing pace and complexity as technology makes it easier to do more in less time.
Our stressors can build up slowly until one day something happens and suddenly we can take no more.
To prevent this happening it’s important for us (as well as our employers) to consider “how can I look
after my mental health at work?”
Types of Stress
 Distress – stress due to an excess of adaptive demands placed upon us.
Examples:
 Death of a family member
 Hospitalization (oneself or a family member)
  Being abuse or neglected
 Eustress – is the type of stress we feel when we are excited.
Examples:
 Riding a roller coaster
 Compete for a promotion
 Go on a first date
Stress Personalities
 Type A Personality – Type A individuals are characterized mainly by achievement striving,
impatience and time urgency and, anger and hostility. They are someone who walk and talk fast,
get impatient easily, and always seem to be in a hurry.
 Type B Personality – individuals seem to be more laid-back. When a potentially stress-producing
event occurs, they are better able to keep it in perspective and use more positive ways to deal
with it. They are more relaxed and more agreeable.
SOURCES OF STRESS
Personal Stressors
Personal sources of stress deal with such non-work issues as family and intimate relationships, marriage,
divorce, health issues, financial problems, and raising children.
Occupational Stressors
Individuals who have been on their own and in the workforce full time seem preoccupied with the stress
that work brings.
 Job Characteristics
 Role Conflict – occurs when our work expectations and what we think we should be
doing don’t match up with the work we actually have to do.
 Role Ambiguity – occurs when an individual’s job duties and performance expectations
are not clearly defined.
 Role Overload – develops when individuals either feel they lack the skills or workplace
resources to complete a task or perceive that the task cannot be done in the required
amount of time.
The key to minimizing the stress that comes from role conflict, ambiguity, and overload is to
get clarification about your job duties. Although you are given job description upon hire,
make sure you sit down with your boss to ensure that you know just what she expects from
you.
 Organizational Stressors – that are likely to cause stress include such factors as person-
organization fit, organizational rules and policies, supervisory relationships, and organizational
change.
 Person–Organization Fit – refers to how well such factors as your skills, knowledge,
abilities, expectations, personality, values and attitudes match those of the
organization.
 Change – a major contributor to organizational stress, which occurs most often from
downsizing and restructuring.
 Relations with Others – our co-workers and customers can be a major source of
workplace stress.
 COMMON WORK-RELATED STRESSORS
 Organizational change
 Job insecurity
 Balancing family and work demands
 Paying bills
 Pay inequity
 Poor relationships with colleagues or bosses
 Insufficient skills for the job

CONSEQUENCES OF STRESS
Personal Consequences
How we respond to stress can have devastating consequences.
 Responding with anger or rage can lead to family members being hurt, the loss of jobs, and
perhaps trouble with the law.
 Responding with the use of alcohol and drugs can lead to addiction, broken relationships, and
even death.
 Headache and body aches are also symptoms of stress.
 Extreme physical responses to stress include hair loss
 Weakening your body’s ability to prevent or fight off illness and diseases
Organizational Consequences
 High level of stress reduce job performance on many tasks.
 Feeling burnout or become emotionally exhausted and no longer feel they have a positive
impact on other people or their job.
 Absenteeism and turnover
 Drug and alcohol abuse
MANAGING STRESS
Planning for Stress
 Exercise – not only keeps your hearts strong and resistant to the effects of stress, but can also
help reduce your stress levels during particular stressful moments.
 Laughter – humor has been shown to buffer stress in several ways.
 Diet – Drinking water helps keep your body hydrated able to cope with daily stressors.
 Sleep – sleep deprivation or lack of sleep can cause negative behavior such as irritability, fatigue,
lack of concentration and even depression.
 Support Network – people who have someone to talk to, like family member or a friend, are
better able to manage their stress.
 Coping Skills – improving your coping skills often means learning how to deal with conflict.
Managing your Mental Health in the Workplace
1. Create a Climate of communication
You know the saying, a problem shared…If you aren’t coping, tell someone. Many of us tell
others to ask for help, yet don’t do the same ourselves. Whether it’s an issue about workload or
 there’s something going on at home, ask for an adjustment or some flexibility in hours. (Read
more about flexible working).

Complement colleagues for work done well; it will make you feel as good as them. Encouraging
a collaborative and supportive working environment where people are appreciated can really
help improve mental health at work. Don’t let disagreements fester, deal with conflicts straight
away. (Learn more about how to deal with conflicts at work constructively).

2. Breathe Deeply
I cannot stress how beneficial this is for our mental and physical health! Most of us take shallow
breaths into the top of our lungs, which in itself causes stress in the body. Take a few minutes a
few times a day to focus on your breathing. Imagine your lungs as bellows and breathe slow and
low into your side ribs. Make the exhale slightly longer than the inhale. If you feel dizzy it means
you tend to chest breathe. Shorten the breath cycle and keep practicing, your lungs will get used
to it and your mind and body will love you for it! This activates the ‘rest and digest’ nervous
system, which reduces cortisol and heart rate, calms our body, improves focus and energy levels
and helps to manage emotions.

What’s more, it’s simple, quick and free!

Try this technique too. Breathe in for 5, hold for 6 and out for 7. This increases circulation,
uptake of oxygen and can aid getting to sleep. You could move on to learn mediation or
mindfulness, both of which can focus on the breath or visualization and have been scientifically
proven to improve mental health within 3 months.

3. Look through a different lens

How do you look at the world? Are you a worrier or do you tend to look at the negative rather
than the positive? What we focus on is what we tend to get, so pay attention to the language
you use to yourself, about others and about situations. Saying I’m so stressed or anxious and
being worried actually sets off the stress response in our body. The more our stress response is
activated, the less able our body is able to regulate it – hence we just keep getting more
stressed! When faced with challenges, practice thinking about what you can do, what one thing
will help make some improvement. Practicing gratitude or journaling is a great way to cultivate a
more optimistic perspective.

4. Avoid unhealthy habits, create new improved ones and get more Zzz’s
Increasing research shows our lifestyle has considerable effect on our stress levels and mental
health. Lack of sleep is a major contributor, indeed it can easily become a vicious cycle as the
one affects the other. It makes us irritable, upsets our metabolism and makes us more accident-
prone. Improve your sleep quality by aiming for 7-9 hours a night in a dark well-ventilated room
and turn of all electronics at least 30 minutes before sleeping, keeping your phone away from
your bed. Check out our blog post on why sleep should be a wellbeing focus in your
organisation.

5. Focus on your food and drink

When overstretched and stressed it’s easy to turn to highly processed, sugary foods, caffeine
and alcohol for an instant ‘fix’. The resulting insulin and energy spikes and crashes lead to mood
swings and gut problems, which stress the body. Improving your diet to include plenty of
 vegetables and unprocessed foods and drinking water throughout the day will bring improved
energy levels, alertness and mental well-being.

6. Move more
Sitting still in front of a screen for long periods can sap our energy and ability to focus plus it
decreases circulation, slowing waste removal. So take every opportunity to move regularly by
using the stairs, going over to talk to a colleague, taking breaks to stretch and having a walk at
lunchtime.
ABC of Stress Management
 Always take time for yourself at least 30 mins/day.
 Be aware of your own stress meter; know when to step back and cool down.
 Concentrate on controlling your own situation, without controlling everybody else.
 Daily exercise will burn off the stress chemicals.
 Eat lots of fresh fruits, veggies, bread and water.
 Forgive others, do not hold grudges and be tolerant; not everyone is capable as you.
 Gain perspective on things, how important is the issue?
 Hugs, kisses and laughter; have fun and don’t be afraid to share your feelings with others.
 Identify stressors and plan to deal with them better next time.
 Judge your own performance realistically; don’t set goals out of your own reach.
 Keep positive attitude, your outlook will influence outcomes and the way others treat you.
 Limit alcohol, drugs and other stimulants, they affect your perception and behavior.
 Manage money well, seek advice and save at least 10% of what you earn.
 No is a word you need to learn to use without feeling guilty
 Outdoor activities by yourself, or with friends and families can be great way to relax.
 Play your favorite music rather than watching TV.
 Quit smoking; it is stressing your body daily, not to mention killing you too.
 Relationships; nurture and enjoy them, learn to listen more and talk less.
 Sleep well, with firm mattress and supportive pillow; don’t over heat yourself and allow plenty
of ventilation.
 Treat yourself once a week with a massage, dinner out or movies.
 Understand things from the other person point of view.
 Verify information from the source before exploding.
 Worry less, it really doesn’t get things completed better or quicker.
 Yearly goal setting; plan what you want to achieve based on your priorities in your career,
relationships, etc.
 Zest for life; each day is a gift, smile and be thankful that you are part of the bigger picture.
Conclusion
 Mental illness is everywhere
 Stigma is a way we disgrace others because of their behavior or characteristics
 Stigma manifest because of misconceptions and stereotype due to a lack of information
 Healthy people can become mentally ill due to stressors
 No one is immune to stress
 Realistically, stress can never be totally eliminated from a person’s life, off the job or on.
  Today’s work environment is one of constant and chaotic change, there needs to be dynamic
stress management.
 The goal of managing stress isn’t be completely without stress. After all, some stress is healthy
for you.
“Self-care is how you take your power back.”
“You can’t control everything. Sometimes you just need to relax and have faith that things will
work out. Let go a little and just let life happen.”
If you are in need of mental health support, please call the 24/7 National Center for Mental Health Crisis
Hotline at 0917-899-8727 (for Globe TM/Subscribers), 0908-639-2672 (for Smart/Sun/TNT subscribers)
or 1553 (Landline-to-landline only).