As we observe World Mental Health Day, we turn to our co-founders, Andreas Eisermann and Andreas Peltret, for their perspectives on mental health in the workplace. Their insights highlight the importance of creating a supportive environment where open conversations about mental well-being are encouraged.
What does mental health mean to you as a leader?
Both co-founders emphasize the significance of creating a supportive work environment. Andreas Eisermann focuses on recognizing signs of stress and providing necessary resources:
Andreas Peltret expands on this, highlighting the connection between mental health and performance:
How do you encourage open conversations about mental health in the workplace?
Our co-founders stress the importance of fostering a culture of trust and transparency. Andreas Eisermann leads by example:
“I promote open conversations about mental health by helping to create, and setting an example myself, a culture of transparency and trust. I regularly remind my team that it’s okay not to always feel good and that there’s no reason to be ashamed to ask for support.”
Andreas Peltret focuses on creating a supportive environment and normalizing discussions about well-being:
“To encourage open conversations about mental health in the workplace, I focus on creating a supportive environment where people feel comfortable sharing. This can include regularly promoting mental health resources, fostering a culture of empathy, normalizing discussions about well-being in meetings, and encouraging managers and team members to check in on each other.”
He adds a light-hearted touch, mentioning, “Or doing Bootcamp sessions together 😊”
What's one small thing you do daily to support your own mental well-being?
Both co-founders emphasize the importance of taking breaks during the workday. Andreas Eisermann shares:
“A small thing I do regularly to support my mental well-being is to take a short break to breathe deeply and clear my mind. Whether it’s a short walk outside or simply getting away from the desk – this moment helps me recharge and maintain focus throughout the day.”
Andreas Peltret has a similar approach:
“I make an effort to set aside 30 to 60 minutes each day, either for a proper lunch break to refresh my mind or to go for a walk and get some steps in.”
These insights from our co-founders demonstrate their commitment to prioritizing mental health in our workplace. By leading with empathy, encouraging open conversations, and practicing self-care, they set an example for all of us to follow. On this World Mental Health Day, let’s remember that taking care of our mental well-being is not just important for our personal lives, but also crucial for creating a positive and productive work environment.
To learn more about mental health in the workplace and how to raise awareness within your organization, consider exploring these helpful resources:
Self-Assessment:
Musing Mind Quarter-Life Crisis / Burnout Self-Assessment – a short, confidential assessment to help you evaluate your level of burnout and/or Quarter-Life Crisis, and identify some possible next steps:
https://quarter-life-crisis-or-burnout.paperform.co/Further Readings:
A mentally healthy framework to guide employers and policy makers – © 2024 Deady, Sanatkar, Tan, Glozier, Gayed, Petrie, Dalgaard, Stratton, LaMontagne and Harvey: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11301648/Organizational Best Practices Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace – © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8631150/
Mental health – © BDA 2024 Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände: https://arbeitgeber.de/en/themen/sozialpolitik-und-soziale-sicherung/psychische-gesundheit/
3 symptoms of burnout: the Maslach Burnout Inventory method – Gabe Kwakyi
https://incipiagabe.medium.com/3-symptoms-of-burnout-the-maslach-burnout-inventory-method-c78f0f219a15 (Member-only story)
