Improving mental health – so many options, what works?

2-minute read

The focus of #WorldMentalHealthDay is the importance of addressing #MentalHealth and #Wellbeing in the workplace. Let’s talk about how often mental health leaders unintentionally overwhelm workplaces and communities with choices, expecting audiences to wade through the vast array of options and accompanying jargon.

We rely on trusted relationships to make decisions in fields we know little about

Stigma, plus the still relative newness of knowledge in the mental health field, means that the average person’s knowledge on which mental health interventions really work, and benefit our health, is low. Many of us don’t really know why interventions work, who they work for, and what to expect from their outcome.

To choose, we often reach out to family, friends, trusted colleagues and contacts, to try and make an informed choice – but because of the stigma that still exists within mental health, our reach is far less greater than it might be when using this approach when discussing other topics.

Spend more to get more? Not really

We are constantly bombarded by adverts for mindfulness, couch to 5k, wellness and ‘self-care’ sessions. The adverts may show you the shiniest version of an app or brochure, we are pre-programmed to go after what looks fanciest – imagining they will be most likely to improve our mental health. But for mental health, I encourage you to think like you might with over-the-counter painkillers - there is chemically no difference between a supermarket’s own brand Ibuprofen, and a branded version - the advert or story you are presented with doesn’t necessarily mean a better product, or match your expected impact.

A simple guide on what works

Almost all research that exists provides evidence of the following mental health interventions:

1.       Promote social connection and team building - time spent connecting with others has very few downsides and a myriad of upsides

2.      Though expensive, therapy and counselling does work

3. Promote open communication - organisational culture is better when people feel they can be open when discussing their mental health

4.      Workplaces and communities with a focus on accessibility, inclusivity, and participation have the healthiest people

5.      Encourage physical wellbeing - exercise of any kind is great

6.      Knowledge is fine, but changing habits is better - a supportive leadership culture that creates a healthy environment, has healthy people

Easier said than done

If you are planning to choose a mental health product, service, or intervention, then ensuring one or more of the above embedded into your plan will be critical to your success and overall outcomes. Building something, and/or choosing something isn’t easy. If it was, our mental health would already be better. With great support you don’t have to make the same mistakes others have.

Habitus Collective specialises in providing practical, engaging and lasting solutions to mental health. We bring decades worth of international and best practice expertise in mental health. From designing and developing mental health programmes, engaging communities, and designing and delivering evaluation and research projects. Find out how we can help your organisation do likewise and for other types of support we offer by clicking the button below.