How does mental health influence productivity?

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How does mental health influence productivity?

The relationship between mental health and productivity is bidirectional. When there is an untreated mental disorder, a drop in productivity is observed. The opposite is also true—an employee who feels good about themselves tends to be much more productive and motivated compared to someone who needs help.

But to truly understand this relationship, we need to take a step back and first understand what mental health is.

What is mental health?

According to the WHO, there is no official definition for the term mental health. What we can begin to define here is that mental health is how we react to emotions and events in our lives, functioning as a spectrum: we all fluctuate between good and bad days depending on what happens to us.

When a person develops some type of mental disorder, such as depression, it means an absence of mental health and that the person experiences their emotions in a harmful way, making them feel bad about themselves, damaging their relationships, and compromising daily activities, such as work.

We spend most of our lives at work, which is not always pleasant or satisfying, and can worsen or even trigger pre-existing conditions. There are several types of mental disorders. Here are the 4 most common types in the corporate world that influence productivity:

• Anxiety disorders - 18.6 million people¹
• Burnout – 1 in 5 people²
• Depression – 11.3% of Brazilians³
• Insomnia – 73 million

Productivity in the corporate world

The definition of productivity is complex, as it depends on the company, sector, and even the employee's role. A simple way to contextualize productivity is the direct relationship between the quantity of products or services produced, divided by the costs involved in that operation.

And that's where it gets complex, because for a fast food chain, for example, the more meals served, the better. But if those meals are of poor quality, customers will complain and probably won't return to that store.

Given this, in general terms, a productive person is understood to be not someone who does more things, but someone who does what needs to be done with quality, using the minimum resources possible.

Someone with an untreated mental disorder may have difficulty maintaining this productivity due to stress, cognitive deficits, and difficulty concentrating, which can cause errors, rework, and even accidents within a company.

On the other hand, a person who feels good about themselves, sleeps well, and maintains good mental health tends to be more attentive to details, collaborative, and engaged, which is usually viewed favorably by their leaders. When it's time to take a break

Mental disorders are the 3rd cause of work leave here in Brazil. According to the Social Security Secretariat, depressive episodes account for more than 30% of sickness benefit payments not related to accidents, followed by anxiety disorders (13%).

In 2019, burnout was classified by the WHO as an occupational disease, the same year a survey by the International Stress Management Association (Isma-BR) identified that 32% of economically active adults were suffering from the condition.

The numbers are shocking, but they serve as a warning about the importance of addressing mental health within companies, since the workplace can contribute both to reducing these symptoms and to worsening a mental disorder. At the first warning sign that something is wrong, whether you are an employee or not, a specialized healthcare professional should be consulted, as they will assess the severity of the condition and determine a path to improvement for each case.

What is HR's role in promoting mental health within companies?

A recent survey, published in Medicina S/A, brought attention-grabbing data:

• 71% of Brazilians want their companies to provide mental health programs
• 65% believe their health plan should include psychological care
• 59% understand that internal discussions (in-person or not) about mental health would already be very well received
• 90% believe companies should offer paid leave so they can take care of their mental health
• 92% prioritize companies that offer some type of mental health and wellness program

HR clearly has a fundamental role in actions that promote quality of life and well-being for employees, after all it is one of their responsibilities, but there is definitely no one to blame when it comes to mental health.

What professionals can do is understand that there is a problem (even if it doesn't seem like it at first glance) and prioritize actions that actually have a positive impact, ensuring the necessary support and psychological safety so that employees feel free to be who they are, can show vulnerability, and speak about their ideas without fear of being judged.

If you are an HR professional or occupational health specialist and want to understand how Vigilantes do Sono can help you promote mental health within your company, talk to one of our consultants by clicking the button below: