Supporting mental health is our collective responsibility

Tokyo 2020 was a memorable event for reasons that go beyond the staggering number of record-breaking performances, the introduction of new sports such as skateboarding, surfing, karate and sport climbing, and the overall achievement of making the 32nd Summer Olympics happen during a pandemic. It was also memorable because of the athletes who used the Games as a platform to speak out about the mental health issues they face as part of their professions and everyday lives.

US gymnast Simone Biles was in the spotlight after withdrawing from the Games because of the psychological stresses she faced competing at the highest level of the sport: “We’re not just athletes,” she said. “We are people at the end of the day, so we have to focus on that.”

While she drew flak from more toxic parts of the media and Twitterverse, the 24-year-old received a lot of support for her courage in going public with the reasons behind her decision. Not only did the strength she showed encourage other athletes at Tokyo 2020 to share their personal mental health struggles, Biles eventually contended in the final and took a bronze.

Biles and the other athletes who spoke out in Tokyo are part of a growing movement of public figures who are using their positions to increase awareness about mental health. Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka is another example. She made headlines for withdrawing from the French Open in May after being fined for not attending a mandatory press conference. "Perhaps we should give athletes the right to take a mental break from media scrutiny on a rare occasion without being subject to strict sanctions,” she said. “I hope that we can enact measures to protect athletes, especially the fragile ones."

World heavyweight champion boxer Tyson Fury has been fearless as an advocate for mental health awareness, publicly sharing his struggles, which include addiction and attempted suicide. Last month he took part in this advert to support CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), a suicide prevention charity in the UK. “Sometimes the toughest opponents are the ones you can’t see,” runs the ad. “Don’t fight it alone.”

Michael Phelps, a former competitive swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time, summed up why it is so important for athletes to speak up about mental wellbeing when he supported Biles for taking her bold step at Tokyo.

"I hope this is an opportunity for us to jump on board, and to even blow this mental health thing even more wide open. It is so much bigger than we can ever imagine, he said. "Mental health over the last 18 months is something people are talking about… It is okay to not be okay.”

It is critical that we all do more to not only raise awareness about mental health, but to create an environment where people feel safe to discuss the issue and seek support where necessary, because it is so widespread, as the data shows:

• CALM says 125 people in the UK take their own lives each week and 75% of UK suicides are male.
• Suicide is the leading cause of death among young men (those under 45) in many countries.
• One-in-five Australians experience a common mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety, during a 12-month period, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and one-in-10 received government-subsidised mental health services.

The situation is fairly consistent whichever country you look at — many people experience mental health problems, the number is growing and men are generally less willing to discuss such issues or ask for help.

The situation is fairly consistent whichever country you look at — many people experience mental health problems, the number is growing and men are generally less willing to discuss such issues or ask for help.

Covid has only amplified the situation, increasing the mental stress on people due to a range of issues, such as seeing loved ones get sick or succumb to the virus, financial worries, job losses, lockdowns, social isolation, wave upon wave of new infections, or simply not knowing when the situation will improve and what our daily lives will look like once that happens. Therapists have seen the emergence of Covid anxiety syndrome where people are fearful of public spaces and getting infected, and extroverts are more likely to suffer from the effects of lockdowns. About three-quarters of Thai people surveyed in May said they felt anxious and hopeless as a result of the pandemic.

Mental health is not a choice, it is something we all have. It is certainly not something people should be judged for. And the data show that many of us experience mental health challenges in our lives and among our families. Despite this, there still exists significant stigma around the issue which makes it harder for many people to reach out when they hit a low point. This is why it is so important that businesses and leaders start to tackle the issue and to prioritise their employee’s mental wellbeing.

Mental health is not a choice, it is something we all have. It is certainly not something people should be judged for. And the data show that many of us experience mental health challenges in our lives and among our families. Despite this, there still exists significant stigma around the issue which makes it harder for many people to reach out when they hit a low point. This is why it is so important that businesses and leaders start to tackle the issue and to prioritise their employee’s mental wellbeing.

The way that we communicate with our team members and colleagues can help create a safe and caring environment and supportive culture where people feel they can be open about any issues they are having.

Leaders have a vital role to play in fostering such an environment and some of the recognised ways for strengthening mental health awareness and mental wellbeing in the workplace follow:

Share by example – Leaders can share some of their own struggles and challenges to help team members feel safe and secure about doing so themselves. Covid has affected the way that each of us thinks and feels, so use this opportunity to share experiences with your teams. This includes sharing how you take time for self-care too.

Connect and check – Take the time to check in with your teams collectively and with each individual team member. If you think someone is struggling, ask them how they are feeling privately and at an appropriate time.

Actively listen – Pay attention to what your colleague is saying. While it may be good to think about the advice you could offer in advance, don’t let this pre-determine the conversation. Remember the mantra: Listen. Think. Respond. You’re there for your colleague, so focus on their agenda.

Be straight – Sensitively address any specific concerns you have, especially if it is affecting their work.

Show empathy – Listen carefully and reflect on what the person is saying. Put yourself in their shoes, show care and concern, help provide perspective and do not judge them.

Don’t assume – You do not know what someone is experiencing, especially if you have not asked them. So ask, and be careful not to say “I know how you feel,” because you cannot.

Provide flexibility – Give people the flexibility they need to manage their situation. This can range from enabling them to work from home, start at different times to manage issues such as stress, insomnia, or medication, and help remove issues or interactions that can trigger or increase their mental and emotional stress. Let people know that taking a mental health day is a good way to help manage such situations.

Offer support – This might start by increasing your own knowledge of how to help support colleagues who are experiencing a mental health challenge (there is a lot of advice available, such as this guide from Mind, research from Harvard Business Review and information from BusinessVictoria). Support can include setting a plan for how you will work with your team member to help address and, where possible, resolve their challenges. You should also have a list of appropriate external organizations, counsellors and doctors who can provide professional support if needed. This information should be shared on your internal communications platforms.

Clearly communicate that mental wellbeing is a priority for your business – Tell your team that their mental health and wellbeing are important to you. Explain how your business is addressing the issue. Share stories and resources on how to manage mental health and how to look out for each other. Ensure your people know there is a framework for dealing with this. If you have an internal communications programme, make mental wellbeing a feature of it.

Mental health is not a choice, it is something we all have. Creating a work environment that positively influences and supports mental wellbeing is our collective responsibility. We all have an important part to play in breaking down the stigma that surrounds the issue. Hopefully your business and its board are already prioritising mental health and communicating clearly about it. If they are not, raise the issue with your manager. And in the meantime, you still have the personal power to help create a safer space with your teammates and colleagues through the way that you connect and communicate with each other.