Stress, anxiety, depression or loneliness affect the workforce now more than ever and this can be seen in the high rate of exhaustion among employees

Deconstructing mental health with Georgiana Andrei, Subscriptions Sales Director at Regina Maria, The Private Healthcare Network, responsible for the wellbeing program Corporate Sano, and Oana Nicolau, co-owner of the Oana Nicolau Clinic, pioneer in psycho-emotional health in Romania with over 13 years of experience in this field.

Stress, anxiety, depression, lost productivity and even burnout are just some of the last two years effects on your employees, apart from stress caused by the armed conflict in Ukraine. In this context, employers no matter the industry are increasingly discussing mental health and introducing psychotherapy services and wellbeing programs on the short list of the employees’ benefits.

In the interview below we’ll address the importance of mental wellbeing for employees and companies, in order to transform great attrition intro great attraction and engagement.

Is mental health a sensitive topic between the employees and their employer? Given the risks involved, how can we openly discuss and provide a solution to this situation?

Georgiana Andrei: Mental health issues were a taboo topic both for individuals and companies, especially in Romania. It’s hard to admit that you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and then seek help, but it’s also difficult for companies to properly identify the symptoms and implement programs that can fit a large number of employees. Even now, studies show that 50% of employees who take days off for mental health problems would not have the courage to tell employers the real reason. It is necessary to turn the discussion about psycho-emotional health into a more real one, because it’s related to the overall wellbeing and sustainability of organizations.

The paradigm has changed in the last couple of years, though. As of 2021, according to ISO 45003: 2021, a well-run company is one that proactively understands, measures and manages psychosocial risks. Also, the pandemic and recent events underlined the importance of adding mental wellbeing benefits to the regular health package and made it a strategic decision.

And, when it comes to local companies, we’ve noticed two trends developing. The first is adding medical services to the health subscriptions, for the employees and their families. The second is choosing a wide range of mental health solutions, that can help different personality profiles tackle psycho emotional issues – workshops (both for employees and managers), emotional first help courses, webinars, private therapy sessions or on-call therapists.

In the last two years, our Corporate Sano wellbeing program has caught considerable interest. Built on five pillars – mental health, quality of sleep, nutrition, ergonomics and cancer screenings, the program addresses the mind and body of the individual. Over 50.000 employees benefited from the programs’ activities, with a great focus on mental health.

By including Oana Nicolau Clinic into our portfolio, with its 13 years expertise and over 70 therapists, we’ve consolidated our constant initiatives for a more holistic approach to healthcare. In a constantly changing and challenging labor market, mental health is a priority, and wellbeing programs are the best tools through which we can build strong and balanced business communities.

How will the last two years affect our mental health and how does Corporate Sano assist Romanian employees?

Georgiana Andrei: Harvard Business Review notes that stress, anxiety, depression or loneliness affect the workforce now more than ever because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Add the latest events in Ukraine and you don’t have to look further than ourselves to see the effects.

First and foremost, we must recognize that a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body, especially since both play an essential role in an individual’s overall wellbeing. On that principle we built Corporate Sano. The program includes both the stage of assessing employee wellbeing within the company and providing tailor made solutions for the needs and profile of the employees, as conceived by the Regina Maria team of consultants, doctors and therapists. The program contains workshops, courses for managers, internal and offline events and activations, one-on-one counseling programs, and an impact assessment at the end.

What we’ve noticed in our experience is that companies switched from wellbeing “one shot pills” to long term programs that are an important part of their strategy.

Since the start of the pandemic, what healthcare services have employees preferred? What about the employers?

Georgiana Andrei: In the area of ​​mental health, a benefit demanded by companies was the development of a helpline where employees could call when they needed someone to talk to or guide them – an on-call therapist. In short, when employees are facing a difficult situation that they cannot handle alone, when they feel overwhelmed by the work environment or by personal situations, or when they need a quick solution to a certain problem, they can call the 24/7 helpline. The on-call therapist will guide them through.

We’ve also noticed a trend in which employers need our support to find ways to get closer to their employees. In the last two years we’ve helped managers identify and address certain sensitive issues inside their teams, through classes and webinars, and also develop specific programs. A program that was very well received was the first emotional help class – a workshop that aims to give employees the right tools to identify and provide quick support for their colleagues in distress.

How can an employer help its employees when their facing psycho-emotional issues?

Oana Nicolau: In such a volatile and uncertain reality, mental health is a priority and wellbeing programs are the best tools for building strong and balanced business communities. The last two years have had an impact on our work habits, but also on our personal lives and many of us are feeling the strain on our mental health.

Some people felt anxiety about getting laid off, others continued to work in the first line or perform other essential services, often feeling unsafe, some got sick from COVID, some witnessed their parents and friends get sick. We worked from home with our kids stressed and nervous, we saw our personal life and work life start to merge into one, we postponed our holidays. We felt overwhelmed by scary possibilities, stressed and afraid. And now we have to face the unknown generated by the conflict in Ukraine.

As the pressure mounts, people are asked to do more, with less. And we see an important number of employees unhappy with their workplace, wanting to make a change or asking for more from their employer. But this period also taught us that psycho-emotional wellbeing is critical for both ourselves and our teams. So, instead of jumping to well-intentioned quick fixes that fall flat, our advice is to take the time to investigate the true causes of attrition and provide custom solutions. First, think of mental wellbeing as a long-term investment. Second, listen more and learn how to correctly identify symptoms of emotional issues – we’ve done a lot of workshops for managers, trying to support and teach them how to address a certain problem. Third, normalize the discussion on mental health – employees that face anxiety or even depression won’t come to you if the work environment is not built as such.

An employer is not a therapist, but it can provide solutions inside the company (mental health programs), encourage employees to use them and create an open workplace.

Why is mental health important in the workplace?

Oana Nicolau: Mental health is essential in the workplace. It affects people’s lives at so many levels and, if your corporate journey has taken you to extents where you feel that burnout is real and that is affecting your ability to be your fullest self, it might be time to take a breath. Just like on an airplane where you’re told to put on your own oxygen mask first, before you help others, corporate leaders can strengthen their ability to lead others if they also take care of themselves.

The emotional state of employees can impact the workplace, the wellbeing of the whole team, the quality of work and the productivity. When employees are emotionally balanced, they have a more optimistic approach, work better and have more meaningful interactions with their colleagues, which in turn positively impacts KPIs and other company objectives.