Bell Let's Talk Day: How to talk about mental health in the workplace - HRD Canada

After nearly two years of the pandemic and ongoing lockdown measures, mental health concerns have become much more prevalent in the workplace, making it important to learn how to deal with staff and colleagues struggling with their mental health.

For Bell Let’s Talk Day, Janet Candido was interviewed in HRD Canada to discuss how employers should approach mental health discussions in the workplace and best ways to communicate with employees who may be struggling with their mental health. 

Why is Bell’s Let’s Talk so important?

“The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated mental health concerns and disorders among Canadians,” Janet Candido, founder of Candido Consulting Group, told HRD. “After nearly two years of the pandemic and with stricter lockdown measures recently put in place, mental health concerns have become much more prevalent in the workplace, making it important to learn how to deal with staff and colleagues struggling with their mental health. Bell Let’s Talk is an important annual event because it’s increased awareness and has helped to normalize the conversation surrounding mental health and mental illness. Each year, it works towards removing the stigma, while encouraging ‘Canadians and people worldwide to keep listening, keep talking and keep being there for ourselves and each other’.”

How to start a discussion around mental wellbeing

“Employers have to go beyond simply recognizing mental health, they have to start normalizing the conversation around it as well,” added Candido. “When HR leaders are speaking to a department or team, they should be able to speak openly about the challenges many people are suffering from and even be open about their own personal experiences. Encourage staff to be considerate and non-judgmental toward colleagues who’re going through a difficult time and, most importantly, don’t try to diagnose them. At the end of the day, employers aren’t qualified therapists, so employees aren’t looking for their manager to get to the bottom of why they’re feeling the way they are. Instead, the employer should be understanding of the situation and provide resources available to their employees that can help.”

Talking to employees that are struggling with their mental health

“It’s important to communicate to employees with empathy and remain non-judgmental, while keeping the focus on them during the conversation,” added Candido. “Don’t minimize or suggest you know what they’re going through and start talking about yourself. Refrain from pushing them to talk to you about what they’re going through, especially if they’re not comfortable. Instead, make sure it’s clear that you’re open to discuss when they’re ready.

“Create a safe environment so employees feel open to talk about their mental health concerns and how it’s affecting their work. This means managers need to ensure that there’s no perceived reprisals to the employee for speaking about their mental health concerns.”

Read the full article originally written by Emily Douglas for HRD Canada.