Introduction

Nearly half of all employees are suffering from mental health problems or have experienced them in the last 2 years. Why? The reasons are complex, but research shows the main culprit is lack of support at work.  We’re talking about actively supporting employees who might be struggling with mental health problems – and everyone in general. Mental health is a full-time job and employers also need to safeguard it to ensure things are running smoothly. 

Here are some highlights of our podcast discussing mental health support accessible in the workplace with Dani Hakim.  Dani is the co- ounder of Safe Space and a Health Coach with extensive experience in this area. In this episode, she explains how workplaces can play their part in supporting people’s mental health and how organisations can create safe spaces that nurture mental health so that people are supported well-being at work. 

The Line Between Mental Health and Mental Illness is Blurring

Dani: The way we think about mental health and mental illness has changed over the last few years. Before, the stigma surrounding mental illness often made it difficult for people to seek help, and even more difficult to stay engaged in treatment. We are now seeing more people being diagnosed with a mental illness, and choosing to address their mental health issues. 

Mental health can be seen as an absence of mental disorder. According to the World Health Organization it has been defined as "a state of emotional, psychological and social well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in the environment, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life.”

Dani: People need to know that it is not just about managing stress but also thriving, being engaged in life, living in line to one's purpose, happiness and fulfilment. 

On the other hand, mental illness is a term that describes a wide range of mental disorders — health conditions that affect your mood, thinking and behaviour. Examples include depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. 

While there are many different types of mental disorders within both categories, people are more likely to be diagnosed with a disorder if they experience symptoms for at least six months. This means that the focus of our efforts in the workplace must shift from a treatment-based model to a prevention-based model. And if the current systems that your organisation has in place are not working for everyone, it's time to rethink how you can approach it. 

When is The Right Time To See a Doctor?

Dani: When it exceeds your point of tolerance. When something happens that makes it hard for you to cope with your daily life. You might feel like you can't go on, and that you need help from someone else. This can be anything from pressure at work, trauma, grief or even divorce. If it impacts your day to day life then it's worth seeing a doctor. 

Employees Handle Situations Differently

Dani: Employees react to their life, company and environment changes differently. They act differently when they are under stress or when they are happy. This is one of the reasons why some employees can be stressed out by certain things but not others, even if the circumstances aren't any different. For example, an employee may be affected by a change in management style or a new policy but not another person who works under similar conditions. 

Why do they act differently in similar situations? The answer is simple: We are all products of our environments. The schools we went to, our friends, the existing family relations and the figures in our past and present lives shape us into who we are today, how we feel and react to situations. 

Re-branding Mental Health

Dani’s experience of being a mother and a career woman is not uncommon. In fact, many women struggle with this juggling act. The shift from being single to a mother was a part of life that she did not have the time to adjust to. 

Being a Director in a Marketing and Advertising agency catering to the healthcare industry, Dani describes how exhaustion weighed her down but her career was important to her therefore stepping away was out of the question, at the time. She states that she was struggling and was fighting hard not to show this because she knew her job was at stake. Like most people feel, fear of seeming ineffective or inefficient at work plays a role in the matter as well. 

Her turning point came when she lost control during a meeting at work and burst into tears out of frustration. The incident caught her boss off guard, who could not hide how disappointed they were in her reaction. It was at this point that Dani decided that something needed to change in order for her not only to continue lacking self awareness but also be able to be herself again. 

In a fast paced and addictive environment, like Marketing and Advertising, most people may not be willing to let it all go. But she was able to adjust, leave that job, found a new company and work from home. She then learned how to bounce back to her game and move forward to be better at work, home and in her mental wellness. 

Clearly, mental health is not a luxury, it's a necessity. It is not just a matter of getting professional help, but also about creating an inclusive environment where people can speak freely about their feelings without being judged or discriminated against. Therefore, the first step towards making mental health accessible in the workplace is rebranding it as a normal part of life. 

Just like physical health, mental health is something we all need to take care of and manage on a daily basis. However, this does not mean it's something we should be ashamed of or hide from others at work or elsewhere in our lives. Everyone has their ups and downs and sometimes we feel like we're not coping well enough with challenges life throws at us. 

A new look at mental health issues insinuates that organisations create spaces, forums and build conversations where they can check on employees and colleagues and encourage them to share their sentiments. Feedback allows individuals to embrace these moments as opportunities to learn more about ourselves and improve our lives in the long run. 

Factors Contributing to the Dubai Expat Community Mental Health at their Workplace

- Loneliness, lack of social support and isolation. Expat community in Dubai is far from family and friends. Many have a difficulty in making new friends with present barriers like language barrier.

- Work pressure. This can be due to work-related stress or fear of losing a job if they are not performing well at work and also feeling that they are not able to cope with the challenges faced in their career path effectively and efficiently.

- Financial stress. A number of expats in Dubai may find themselves in financial problems due to various reasons such as divorce, separation or death of a loved one back home or even here in Dubai.

- Relationship problems. Toxic or abusive, it can affect your mental health significantly and lead to depression. This is because relationships are one of the most important aspects of life and they can either make or break us.

How Safe Space Includes Mental Health, Flexible Working and A Healthy Workplace Culture is Important

Dani: Safe Space offers open and confidential spaces where you can say what you like and be heard without judgment or criticism. It's an open and inclusive environment where everyone feels safe, respected and valued. We ensure you are comfortable and help you become aware of any triggers that may cause them distress, as well as the precautions to take if necessary. 

Employees in different industries get to delve deeper into their mental health and wellbeing with qualified therapists, counsellors and coaches. Support is offered in the form of group activities such as mindfulness classes, workshops and seminars on emotional intelligence, how to handle clients, schedule management etc. 

We aim to help individuals in learning and understanding mental health, the source of anxiety and burnout, develop strategies to avoid the struggle, and how to face life challenges. The goal is to prevent mental illnesses and ensure people at work have a healthy mind. 

Safe Space helps corporate leaders form a culture of opening up and a space that allows them to be better leaders. The health of your employees is vital to your company's success, so it's important to encourage them to look after their mental health by creating a safe space for them. 

The Safe Space Survey is an anonymous tool that can be used by companies to create awareness and increase the psychological safety of employees. It helps companies understand how they are perceived by their employees and the issues that their employees are struggling with. 

Employers need to create a mental health policy that encourages employees to speak up if they're struggling with anxiety or depression. This will help provide support if your employees are experiencing any issues with their mental health. 

The survey has questions such as:

1. Do you feel safe in this office?

2. Do you trust your company?

3. Does the work environment allow you to be yourself?

4. Do you feel like your company cares about your mental health?

5. Do you take time off for your mental wellbeing sake?

6. Do the employees feel positively about the company? 

Finding a Verified Reliable Mental Health Coach

With the increase of qualified coaches post pandemic, there are now many options available to find a professional who is certified, verified and experienced for Dubai expats resources. The Safe Space has an array of coaches who specialise in different areas of mental health. There are financial wellbeing coaches to assist in handling financial stress, and empathy and relationship coaches for those who need help building relationships with others. 

The Magic Treatment to Prevent Mental Illnesses

The power of "me" and "we" is that it's not just one day, or one session, or even one speaker. It's a multitude of people coming together to support the individual and whole. And that's a powerful tool in maintaining good mental health status. It's important that we know that the responsibility of creating a safe and supportive culture for mentally ill employees does not fall on HR but on everyone in the organisation. With the organisational leaders at the fore-front, this needs to become part of the corporate culture by making mental health support accessible in the workplace. 

Follow the link to the full podcast with Dani Hakim to discover ways in which you can create safe spaces for your employees and boost their mental wellbeing in the work environment.