Kiwis are increasingly reporting poor mental health wellbeing. For some it is caused by major trauma but for others it is coping with daily stresses of family life and the demands of work. A NZ Ministry of Health Survey in 2019 found that:
- 1 in 5 adults aged 15 years and over are diagnosed with a mood and/or anxiety disorder
- People reporting poor mental health has risen from 20% in 2020 to 36% in 2022.
Benefits of a Workplace Mental Wellness
- A better culture - As Peter Drucker said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It’s about being human. The way in which people communicate, connect and care for each other at every level of the business has a profound influence on how people perform.
- Higher levels of commitment and engagement which leads to lower staff turnover, absenteeism, ability to attract staff in a tight labour market, and improved productivity.
- Lower levels of stress and higher resilience with employees who work better together, stay calm and can rapidly adapt to shifting circumstances with an open mind, better decision making and improved creative thinking.
HOW DOES MINDFULNESS IMPROVE MENTAL FITNESS?
Our minds are our most valuable asset and developing or training of the mind through the use of mindfulness techniques brings great rewards.
Mindfulness can be defined as “mind training”. Think of it as workout for the mind which improves mental fitness, just like working out at the gym improves physical fitness.
If you are mentally fit, you have the skills and practices to improve and sustain your own state of well-being and perform at your best. You can lean into challenges and feel able to navigate change and stress, no matter what day-to-day life presents. Mental fitness enables you to reconnect with what it is that you love in your work and your life.
Bhavna’s Mental Fitness and Wellbeing Programme for Workplaces, combines mindfulness and psychological tools that are designed to improve teams’ mental fitness leadin g to higher performance and a better workplace culture.