ANKUR: This year’s theme is “Mental health at work” - any advice for working people out there?
AMIT: It’s key to help employees see how their work connects to the organisation’s broader mission and goals. When people understand the bigger picture, it creates a sense of purpose and engagement.
Pair this with clear objectives and proactive, holistic feedback that goes beyond just performance metrics to include strengths, areas for growth, and well-being. This approach will foster a culture of support and development, making employees feel valued and connected.
That said, though, there are several steps you can take when you see signs of mental distress or stress:
Catch burnout early: Burnout doesn’t happen overnight; it creeps in gradually. If you notice signs of burnout in yourself or your teammates, don’t ignore them - take a mental health day, talk to your HR or manager, or even seek professional help. The sooner you recognise burnout, the easier it is to prevent it from turning into something more.
Use every resource: Many organisations now provide free counselling sessions and partnerships with mental health organisations like Amaha to help employees feel supported. However, not everyone is aware of these resources, or uses them. If your company has these available, take the time to learn about them and don’t hesitate to use them.
Lead by example: Finally, if you’re in a leadership role, remember that you set the tone for your team, so being open about your own mental health can really help break down barriers. For instance, if you need to take a mental health day, share that with your team. Creating a mentally healthy work culture starts with leaders who are willing to lead by example
Train your managers: It is also important to train managers and leaders across organisations to identify signs of mental health distress in their team members, to enable timely interventions. Training is also critical to enable managers in sensitively and compassionately in broaching the need for mental health support with a team member.
Part I & Part II of this blog discuss the mental health crisis in India, and how Amaha is providing mental healthcare at scale.
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