As a small-business owner, your team is essential to your business; when they’re at their best, your business is too. So, what do you do if one of your team members is mentally unwell or experiencing a mental health crisis?
The reality of owning a small business often comes with budget constraints and limited manpower. Together these can dictate how you’re able to offer support and make it tricky to navigate delicate situations like this.
If you’re currently worried about the mental health of one of your employees, or you just want to be prepared to support your team, here’s a practical guide to navigating mental health with your team:
Start with prioritising open communication
Create a supportive environment: Foster a workplace culture that encourages open communication about mental health. Make it clear that discussing mental health is welcomed and supported.
Regular check-ins: Establish regular check-ins with team members. These don’t need to be formal meetings; a casual chat during breaks or a quick check-in email can help you stay up to date on how your team is doing.
Promote resources: Share information about mental health resources, hotlines, or employee assistance programs (EAPs) that are available to the team. This ensures your team knows where to turn for additional support.
Consider offering flexible work arrangements
Accommodate where possible: Of course working from home isn’t an option for all roles, but try your best to be flexible with work arrangements. If it’s possible, consider allowing temporary adjustments to workload or schedules to accommodate the team member’s needs during the crisis.
Encourage breaks: Remind your team about the importance of taking breaks and time off when needed. Be open to allowing your team to take mental health days: sometimes a short break can make all the difference in managing stress and mitigating crisis.
Build a supportive team culture: Foster a team culture where everyone supports each other. Encourage team members to step in and help with tasks when someone is going through a challenging time.
Know the signs and encourage professional help
Educate yourself and your team: Familiarise yourself and your team with common signs of mental health struggles. This knowledge can help in identifying when a team member might be in a bad headspace or crisis.
Training in mental health first aid: Consider offering a Mental Health First Aid training for key team members. This training equips individuals with the skills to recognise signs of mental health issues and provide initial support. While this doesn’t replace professional help, it can make an incredible difference in preventing a serious crisis or de-escalating situations.
Offer professional resources: While small businesses often don’t have capacity for an in-house mental health professional, you can provide information about affordable or free mental health services in your community. Encourage your team members to seek professional help.
Remember, taking care of mental health is a collective effort. By encouraging open communication, fostering a supportive environment, and providing resources, small businesses can make a huge difference on the wellbeing of their team members. If you’re interested in equipping yourself with the skills and resources to support and provide emotional aid, you might like to explore Mental Health First Aid courses available in your community.
