Why mental health is just as important as physical health. Sensitised leadership is prevention.
Mental illnesses are often invisible for a long time and there are still many prejudices about the psyche and its clinical pictures, especially in everyday working life.
‘Just pull yourself together!’ is what those affected are often told. Stress, excessive demands, private problems – what it looks like on the inside, despite a ‘healthy exterior’, remains hidden – until the façade can no longer be maintained.
The current figures speak for themselves: 87 per cent of all employees in Germany feel stressed. 60 per cent suffer from stress-related emotional exhaustion. (Source: www.tagdermentalengesundheit.de). According to the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology (dgppn), almost 18 million people nationwide suffer from a mental disorder, including those caused by the consumption of alcohol and drugs. This means that mental illnesses are by no means rare. And the trend is rising. At work, they are not only the second most common cause of sick days, but also the most common reason for early retirement.
Mental health is teamwork
Mental health and stress management are decisive factors for job satisfaction. Therefore, it can only be in the interest of every company to create an open approach to mental stress and illness. Creating the right framework conditions for this is teamwork. The goal is prevention. This also depends on sensitised managers. It has been proven that managers can significantly influence the mental health and well-being of their employees through their leadership behaviour. For example, they should be able to recognise situations of excessive demands at an early stage and, if necessary, develop job-appropriate relief solutions in discussions.
The coronavirus pandemic has further encouraged openness to mental health.
Managers who take prevention, health and resilience in the team seriously are more in demand than ever. They are informed and committed, and above all they recognise the relevance of wellbeing. In general, a clear shift in awareness of mental health is recognisable in companies and among their employees. The annual ‘International Mental Health Day’, which aims to set an example against the stigmatisation of mental health problems, makes an important contribution to this.
Commitment to mental health
As one of the strongest personnel consultancies in Germany, HAGER positions itself as a human potential company.
‘We discover talent and potential. Our mission is to cultivate an environment of responsibility for the networking and further development of sustainable leadership. Our leadership service follows mindful principles. The promotion of mental health is a particular concern of ours. HAGER precisely recognises modern leaders and top-level shapers who are committed to mental health in the team and also take this to heart for themselves.’
Oliver M. Badura, COO, HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH
