As your business prepares to close another year, you might be looking ahead for what will continue to keep your people motivated, optimistic, focused and resilient. You might also worry about the cost of investing in positive mental health actions. More training, changed processes, increased screenings and new programs all incur cost, to be sure.
The good news is, it’s worth it. Not only for the altruistic desire to do right by your teams and employees, but for the financial return on investment. In a study done by PWC in Australia, they found a positive return on investment (ROI) of 2.3. For every one dollar spent, a company earns, on average, $2.30 in benefits to the company. The greatest gains were found in small to medium sized organizations where employee participation is easier to encourage and track. When companies invest in several positive mental health actions in a manner that shifts the culture and attitudes toward mental wellness and resilience, it pays off.
That leads us to the “what.” What are positive mental health actions? The study identifies seven of them:
- Resilience training
- Mental health first aid and education
- Health screenings (mental and physical)
- Encouraging employee involvement
- Mentoring or coaching programs
- Physical activity programs
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) return-to-work
When you are ready to invest in resilience and mental wellness, look for a professional who can:
- Assess your organizations unique needs
- Bring expertise and skill in the mental health field
- Cultivate trust and safety
- Develop a plan and program specific to the findings of the assessment
I’d love to be a part of your organizations journey in 2019.
Renee Branson 