This blog is related to one component of ISO 45003: Psychological Health and Safety at Work. If you’d like to learn more about the guidelines of ISO 45003 implementation at your organization, please refer to this blog.
To effectively assess the overall and individual well-being of employees, diagnostic tools are necessary. These tools guide organizations to identify and evaluate sources of stress, which could be related to workload, relationships, work culture, or external factors. A couple of effective tools for psychosocial stress factors in the workplace are perception checklists and life event inventories. These tools, like the perception checklist below, are valuable in supporting mental health in the workplace by providing a structured assessment of employees’ well-being.
Here’s how these tools can contribute to mental health support:
- Perception Checklists: These lists include words or phrases that employees can use to describe their emotional states or express their feelings, making it easier for them to communicate stressors or challenges they may be facing at work or at home. When we can precisely name our emotions, we become better at identifying and responding to those emotions in ourselves and others.
- Life Event Inventories: These inventories help individuals identify and reflect on significant life events, both positive and negative. Identification and recognition of life events may be a large hurdle due to the perceived impact of the event, coping mechanisms (e.g., internalizing the issue), or existing cultural and social norms on expressing feelings. Recognizing and understanding these events can contribute to a better understanding of potential stressors.
- Perception Checklists: These checklists provide a common language for employees and managers to discuss and label emotions. This can encourage open communication and reduce stigma associated with discussing mental health in the workplace.
- Life Event Inventories: By encouraging employees to share their experiences, these inventories facilitate communication between team members and management. This can create a supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable discussing their mental health.
- Perception Checklists: Routine use can help identify patterns or changes in emotional states, allowing for early assessment if negative trends emerge. This proactive approach can prevent more serious mental health issues from developing.
- Life Event Inventories: Understanding the correlation between life events and mental health allows for targeted support when needed. It’s important to note that some life events are acute and happen suddenly, while others take place gradually and may last for an extended time.
- Perception Checklists: Managers and HR professionals can use the results from checklists to tailor support measures to individual needs. For example, if stress or anxiety is evident, specific resources or therapies can be recommended.
- Life Event Inventories: Understanding the life events that may be affecting an employee builds the bridge for providing personalized support. This could equate to celebrating positive events or offering extra support during challenging times.
- Perception Checklists: Regularly using these checklists can contribute to a preventive mental health approach by catching early signs of stress or emotional distress.
- Life Event Inventories: By understanding historical and potential stressors in employees’ lives, organizations can implement measures such as stress management programs, wellness initiatives, or flexible work arrangements.
The effectiveness of these tools depends on your organization’s commitment to fostering a culture of openness, support, and mental health awareness. Emotional intelligence has a significant positive impact on an organization’s working environment. Research also shows that this type of environment is directly correlated with financial measures like return on sales, revenue growth, efficiency, and profitability.
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